Monday, March 3, 2014



http://thedotter.com/


NEW BLOG: THE DOTTER

What's blogspot? I know, so old school. We're keeping up with the social media Jones' and relaunching our blog, The Dotter. (Get it? Sounds like Daughter, as in Daughter of Design, great little event planning company, you might have heard of them.)

Follow us, read along, check it out. The posts are kept short but potent. We know you're all busy or have the attention span of...hey where are you going? I'm not done explaining.

We've imported all the old posts (not going to lie there are some kinks so if you see something, say something) and adding new ones daily (let's see how long I can keep this up).

Okay off you go. Go check it out!

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Zankyou - International Registry






For the couple with friends and family sprinkled around the world this is the registry answer for you!

Zankyou is the world´s most popular online wedding registry. Zankyou is available in 18 different countries and in 8 languages.


Zankyou is an online cash wedding registry, where the couple adds items that guests "buy"for them but the credit of the amount is gathered and then the couple can transfer it to their back account and decide to take the funds and apply it to that item or new home, honeymoon,...paying back the wedding ha!

There's a free website that comes with the registry and now a free mobile app for iPhone and Android too.

Here's how it works:
Zankyou charges a 2.85% of the total contribution made per guest, with .99 cent transaction fee. The couple has the choice of covering these fees or having their guest cover these fees; if the couple chooses the second option Zankyou´s services will be completely free for them. Zankyou also has a premium feature called "Preferential Wedding Registry Fee" where the couple can pay $19.00 once and this lowers their rate to 2.25% with no transaction fee.

NEW MOBILE APP!
Seeing how every day more and more couples use their mobile phone for planning their wedding, Zankyou decided to launch a free iPhone and Android App where the couple can do the following:
- Follow their wedding agenda, gifts received, messages from guests and photos all from their iPhone or Android
- Create and add gifts directly to their list from the photos they take on their iPhone or Android.
- Check the gifts they have received and send thank you messages to their guests directly from their phone.
- Guests can upload the wedding photos they take on their phones directly to the wedding website.
- With all of Zankyou´s privacy settings, the couple can decide who has access to the app and wedding website.
- Share the wedding agenda with their guests. No need for them to look for the wedding invitation, they will have it all on their phone.
- Guests can find the wedding location stress free directly from their phones. No need to worry about them getting lost!
- More info about this App here: http://www.zankyou.com/us/iphone-wedding-app

Contact info:
info@zankyou.com
www.zankyou.com/us 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/zankyou
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ZankyouUS





Thursday, July 4, 2013

Alert! Pretty USPS stamps for weddings!

USPS finally gets wise to the idea of pretty stamps and not those corny wedding cakes and weird heart ones that no bride over the age of 15 would ever want to use!

I love the vintage stamps but wouldn't have to rely on them so heavily if USPS would keep this up!

Keep up the good (art)work!


Monday, January 14, 2013

"The Party Planner" in Winter 2013 issue of New York Magazine, Weddings


This seriously is one of the hugest honors! I've dreamed about being the featured Expert in New York Magazine, Weddings since the first time I flipped through an issue! Please read the article while I think about what my new life goal should be now that this is checked off :)

Friday, December 21, 2012

Brides Magazine Field Guide: The 10 Things You Should Do First


10 immediate things to do when you get engaged! We spoke with Brides Magazine about the first first first things a newly engaged person should do. Look, everyone is going to give you their advice on the steps to start planning but these are the tips just for you personally on how to enjoy/prepare for your very recent engagement. 

 
 




Here is the full list of tips we gave to Brides. They had to be weeded down for the article but think the others will still benefit you newly engaged folks:

1) Look around where you are, save a keepsake, take everything in. What song was playing in the background? What kind of moon was it? Might be nice to have the actual sand, grass, leaf your fiance kneeled down on. Don't let your engagement be a blur.

2) call your important people BEFORE you change your status on Facebook so that's not the way they find out

3) Get your nails done. People are going to ask to see your ring, which is subsequently on your hand and so you will be showing your hands and nails to a lot of people in the coming weeks.

4) Speak to your accountant about what date would be best for you to joint file, might play into when you legally want to get married as you start getting ready to set the date. Also look up when will be best to go on honeymoon if you'd like to leave for a trip right after your wedding.

5) Cancel your haircut appt or just get a trim. You'll prob want that grown out for the wedding.

6) stop eating carbs. just kidding. sort of.

7) Record a video interview of yourselves so you can remember the moment and recap it. Like a video diary.

8) Speak with other engaged couple friends to make sure you don't have a scene from bride wars, allow honeymoon time

9) Don't even think about going for walkthroughs at venues until you have both of these 1) budget 2) guest count

10) Maybe not call everyone immediately and just spend the day with each other and enjoying the calm happiness before you pop open the can of ecstatic joy from all your friends and family. There's plenty of time to share the news but you only get a few private moments for you two like this.

11) Try not to have an out of body experience and listen and absorb the words your man is saying to you when he's proposing

12) Be mindful who you talk to your wedding about because they may assume they are a wedding party member or guest, when they are not. Whoops!

13) Someone's idea of best band they've ever seen doesn't necessarily fit your criteria. Everyone wants to be the authority and will give you their list of favorite vendor from their wedding, their cousin's, their neighbor's coworker's sister's wedding,... Be gracious and ready but don't feel pressured to use all the same vendors your sister did.

14) Ever watch say yes to the dress when they bring 10 people shopping? Only bring people who you really value their opinion. Otherwise travel light. This is not something the village needs to vote on.

15) Your favorite color/flower/dress will change 6 times at least. This is normal and part of the process. Don't feel afraid/hesitant to start collecting ideas of things you like, you're not committed to it and it's not the final decision by a long shot so just get going!

16) Make sure your fiance knows it is his wedding too (and mean it!) and do what you can to make him feel invested and that his opinions truly count and are as valuable. Don't get frustrated that he doesn't care more when he's checked out at the last floral sample meeting when he wasn't involved in the first 3 meetings or in selecting anything.

17) As long as you've been dreaming about your wedding day, your parents have been thinking about it for even longer. The event is in honor of you and your fiance but it is about them as well so try to keep an open mind to their thoughts on tradition, guest list, etc. It's a big day for them too.

18) If you're thinking of hiring a planner best to do it before you book the venue. There are so many times a client comes to me and I wish I could undo some of the planning and take them to the venue that would have really been a better fit for them.

19) There are so many options. Too many options. Brides suffer from "analysis paralysis" and drive themselves crazy trying to research the best deal, best photographer, best, ... What's best is if you stay sane, enjoy the options and be happy in your decisions and then don't look back. No buying the second or third dress!

20) Don't lose sight of what the wedding is about really. It's not about the celadon and aubergine color story. Promise yourself you will let go and not obsess about the details and enjoy your wedding day no matter what weather forecast it is and even if the DJ accidentally played the wrong first dance song.

Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Custom Men's Shirts from Alasbater & Chess


I know. A lot of groomsmen gift ideas this month. 

I met with Alabaster & Chess today who design custom suits and shirts for men. Men's attire is my achilles heel of wedding planning so always eager to learn more about the world of men's fashion. 

Custom suits are a great way to go for gm because like bm dresses, you know it's hard to find one cut that is going to flatter every body type so why not pick the colors and materials then then get each one custom made - pick the stitching color, pocket style, lining fabric-- especially if the price point is competitive with a designer suit. And what's cool for the guys is that Alabaster & Chess will have their measurements on file for future pieces that are measured and tailored to fit like a glove. 

So maybe gifting gm a suit each is more than you want to do but the shirts are also custom fitted and made (so no boxy/baggy look - hate that) and you can do cute things like have their initials embroidered. I feel like my euro guy friends all have their tailor make their shirts and is a new, now very available, option for our good ole American fellas.

Monday, December 17, 2012

Holiday Wishes in Pinterest Style!

Happy Holidays!


We put this "Happy Holidays 2012!" Pinterest board together of all the things we hope your holidays are filled with! Wishing you a safe, warm and happy holiday season!

See you in the New Year!

Warm wishes,

Daughter of Design