There have been so many exciting developments at Remember Our Day in the past few weeks, it’s hard to know where to begin! 

Last week Wednesday, I had the pleasure of meeting the wonderful team at David Reinhard Events.  If you aren’t familiar with their work, partners Ann David and Nicky Reinhard create some of the most fabulous weddings and have been featured in all of the major bridal magazines.  They only book up to two weddings a month, in order to give the best service to their clients, but I’m told their schedule may have some room this coming Fall 2010. 

On Friday, I met with famed wedding and event planner, Loulie Walker, of Loulie Walker Events LLC, and we had so much fun talking about all kinds of unique ideas for favors and accessories.  Loulie’s style is incomparable and it shows in the flawless events she creates for her clients.  A true testament to the quality of her service is the number of clients who have continued to use her over the years for repeat special occasions.  I’m certainly looking forward to working with Loulie to continue providing the high level of service and quality that we each expect for our clients. 

After the meeting with Loulie I stopped in at Crate & Barrel on 59th & Madison Avenue.  Remember Our Day Inc. is partnering with Crate & Barrel and their Wedding Party event to bring couples access to our collection of stylish wedding favors, bridal party gifts, and other ceremony and reception accessories.  We had so much fun at last Sunday’s party, that we will be showcasing our collection again on Sunday, February 28th from 9 a.m. – 11 a.m.  It’s a fantastic private registry event, where you can expect to get treated like royalty for a day!  RSVP to (212) 308-0011. 

Below are some of last weekend’s favorites at the Wedding Party.  Let me know what you think. 

Diamond Napkin Holders

New! Crystal Wine Stopper

New! Miniature Beveled Mirror Box with Lid

Best wishes,  

J.A.S.  

As wedding season gets ready to heat up soon, I would love to hear from all of you about some of the best wedding themes you’ve ever seen.  It could be exceptionally romantic or completely out of the box.

What is your favorite?

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.

Best wishes,

J.A.S.

Hi ROD Family,

TLC is conducting a search for brides who are getting married in the NY Tri-State Area (NY, NJ, CT), Philadelphia, PA, and Miami, FL during the months of February, March, or April 2010.

The show is called Four Weddings and seems like it will be a lot of fun.  The winning couple will get a 5 star vacation from TLC.  In addition, if you are selected for the show, Remember Our Day will donate our stylish, elegant wedding favors for your wedding, up to a value of $500!

See below for further details and don’t forget to tell them that you heard about it from Remember Our Day Inc.

TLC – Casting Brides for “Four Weddings”

All the best,

J.A.S.

http://thresholdvisions.com

Choosing the right photographer is perhaps the most important decision you will make in your wedding planning.  After the cake’s been eaten and the dancing has stopped, your photographs will tell the story of your wedding day again and again for generations to come.  They become a treasured piece of your family’s history and are truly the only investment you make in your wedding planning that will continue to increase in value as the years go by.

So how do you know you are choosing the right person to do the job?  Chances are you’ve never even hired a professional photographer before, let alone for such an important, never to be repeated event!

There are many things to consider in your decision-making.  Here are the two major pieces to consider:

First of all, you have to be inspired by the photographer’s work.  When looking at an artist’s portfolio, ask yourself:  do these photographs make me feel something?  If the answer is no, move on.  But if the answer is yes, ask yourself, “Why?”  What is it about the images that you connect with?  Is it the color, the mood, the use of environment, the smile on people’s faces?  Does this photographer seem to pose every shot?  Or is there a fluidity and naturalness to the look of the people in the pictures?  Which is your preference?

The photographer’s style has to be an extension of your own style.  You have to feel great about the way you can envision this photographer capturing you.  These photographs will last forever.  You want to be sure that the quality of the images is really what you want.  Even if you don’t think you know what you want, check your gut to see what you feel when you are looking at the photographer’s work.   You should be smiling from ear to ear just thinking about it.

Second is the photographer’s personality and presence.  When I am photographing a wedding, I am right up close to the bride and groom all day long.  I’m interacting with them, their families and friends during their most intimate moments.  I’m there as the bride is getting ready, and “behind the scenes” for every little special moment that takes place all day.

Picture yourself sharing your wedding day with the photographer you are meeting with.  Is this the type of person that will be respectful, blend in and add to the experience you want to create for yourself and your guests?

After the wedding you should remember the way your photographer made you feel:  taken care of, supported, made-things-easier, went with the flow, took control at the right moments, but didn’t push.  Remember, it’s your wedding day, not your photographer’s photo shoot.  That should always be first on their mind.

Ultimately your photographer will create two important things for you: fantastic photographs and the best experience for you and your guests.  This is the important and very delicate mix on your wedding day.

Personality and product are the key factors among several essentials that need to be considered before making your important wedding photography choice.  To hear a candid conversation I had with an expert wedding planner about the “5 Essentials You Need to Know”, please visit http://blog.thresholdvisions.com where you can download the audio interview for free.

Best wishes for ease and flow in your wedding planning.

Good Morning ROD Family,

Thinking ahead to your Fall Weddings and Fall Celebrations, take a look at our carefully selected collection of favorite Fall Favors.

Get 20% off the collection for only 4 more days with checkout code:  FALL110

Happy Shopping,

J.A.S.

Congratulations to all of the newly engaged couples of 2010!  I hope the new year is off to a great start for all of you.  Here at Remember Our Day we are preparing for a fabulous 2010.  As always, we continue to seek out the highest quality stylish wedding favors and accessories for all of your wedding and event planning needs, and will be adding new products to the online boutique every week.

Planning a wedding usually involves a lot of moving parts and can be overwhelming to the new bride.  We are encouraging all of our clients to make the first item on their to do list, to pick up our super chic Bride’s Wedding Planning Book.  It will help you keep all of your appointments, ideas, and other considerations all in one place for easy reference, and much less headache.

Most wedding planners will tell you that you should start planning and tackling your list of decisions at least 9 months in advance of your wedding date.  To help make this process easier for you, check in frequently with our Resources section, which includes a list of our Preferred Vendor Partners, as well as tips and advice from celebrity wedding planners.  In addition our carefully chosen collection of stylish and elegant favors and accessories make it easy to plan the perfect day.  In our online boutique you will find everything from gorgeous flower girl baskets to bridesmaid gifts to the most delicious edible favors.  We also haven’t forgotten about the groom in all of this and have selected a fine collection of groomsmen gifts suitable for the most discerning man.

In the coming weeks you will also find helpful tips featured here from some of our Preferred Partners, so please check back frequently!

Best wishes always,

J.A.S.

I hope your week is off to a good start.  As many of you prepare for your winter and even spring weddings, time is getting short and you still have to finish that long to do list.  Some of the most important finishing touches for your wedding ceremony that most guests will take notice of, besides your gorgeous gown of course, include your flower girl basket, ring bearer pillow, and other wedding day essentials. 

When your favorite little flower girl walks down the aisle gently sprinkling rose petals everywhere you want the basket she carries to be a reflection of your beauty and elegance.  Our newest flower girl basket additions in luxurious satin will make a wonderful statement about your distinctive style.  My personal favorite is the “Dazzling Beginning” Flower Girl Basket which is covered in satin and features two exquisite rhinestone brooches on each side. 

"A Dazzling Beginning" Flower Girl Basket

For your ring bearer, our satin ring bearer pillows, which coordinate with our flower girl baskets, make a lovely presentation for the symbolic wedding rings or carrying a bible.  My favorite pick for a ring bearer pillow is the “Graceful Ties” Ring Pillow for its simple elegance and luxurious large satin bows. 

"Graceful Ties" Ring Bearer Pillow

 Take a look at some of our other newest wedding day accessory additions, in different colors and styles, that are sure to match your style and personality.

Best wishes,

J.A.S.

NV342KVTBYEK

Winter Holiday Sugar Cookie Mix

I hope you all had a joyous Thanksgiving!  As we move into the holiday shopping season, it is time to start thinking about the perfect gift to give the people in our lives.  Our 2009 Holiday Gift Catalog has taken the hassle out of holiday gift shopping with our handpicked selection of gifts for women, gifts for men, and corporate gifts for your favorite clients and employees.

Some of our holiday gifts also make wonderful stocking stuffers!  And if you were thinking of sending the usual greeting card from you and the family, consider something more unique that won’t cost you much more – like our Silver Snowflake Ornament with personal message for only $1.75 each!

Many of these gifts can be personalized with a name, monogram, or message and shipped directly to the gift recipient in as little as 7 days!

Finish your shopping list early and find the perfect holiday gift today!

2009 Holiday Gift Catalog

Happy Holidays!

J.A.S.

Rule #1:  Keep the Lines of Communication Open

The Maid of Honor is responsible for communicating with the bridesmaids about ideas for the bridal shower and making sure that everyone is involved.  The bridesmaids will discuss and decide on the:

a)      Bridal shower theme

b)      Bridal shower venue

c)       Bridal shower invitations

d)      Bridal shower favors

e)      Food and bridal shower games

The easiest way to organize everyone is to meet in person if everyone is local or use a service like www.freeconferencecall.com to organize a conference call otherwise.

Rule #2:  Choose a Bridal Shower Theme

Bridal shower themes are varied and can be so much fun.  The theme should be reflective of the bride’s personality and possibly carry through from the theme of the wedding if there is one.  Below are some examples and ideas for bridal shower themes:

a)      Pampering or Spa Party Theme

b)      Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tea Party

c)       Wedding Theme Gifts (i.e. Beach Theme Gifts, Wine Theme Gifts, etc.)

d)      Lingerie Theme (Tasteful Only – Leave the Risqué lingerie for the bachelorette party)

Guests should be directed to purchase gifts within the theme of the bridal shower and SHOULD NOT be directed to purchase gifts from the bridal registry which is meant for wedding gifts that the couple will share in their new home.  Remember, it’s all about the bride. 

Rule #3:  Choose a Bridal Shower venue

The best way to choose the appropriate venue for a bridal shower is to 1) decide on the number of guests you plan to invite 2) consider the available budget and 3) decide whether you need a location that provides food or one that will allow you to bring your own.  Many restaurants have private rooms that can be rented for a nominal fee, which is usually priced by the number of persons being served. 

Rule #4:  Select a Bridal Shower invitation that reflects the Bride

When selecting the bridal shower invitation, keep in mind the theme of the bridal shower, which should already be reflective of the bride’s personality or wedding theme.   As a matter of etiquette, your guest list for the bridal shower should only include those who were also invited to attend the wedding ceremony and reception.  Plan to send out your invitations at least one month before the planned bridal shower.

Rule #5:  Gift Bridal Shower Favors that are both useful and reflect the theme of the shower

We all look forward to the end of any party when we receive that special thank you gift.  The best Bridal Shower Favors or Bridal Shower Thank You Gifts are useful, unique, and ideally reflective of the bridal shower theme.  For example, the Chocolate Bath Salt  from Remember Our Day (http://www.rememberourdayfavors.com) is a most fitting bridal shower favor for a Pampering or Spa Theme Bridal Shower.  The ladies will absolutely thank you for this wonderful indulgence for many days after the bridal shower is over. 

Rule #6:  Make sure the food is delicious and the games are fun

If you are hosting the bridal shower at a full-service venue, then your selection of food will depend on the available menu and your food budget per person.  For a more casual mood, select 4 to 5 finger foods, beverages (mimosa’s are great for afternoon bridal showers), and of course it’s not a party without a cake. 

For your bridal shower games, plan for no more than two games for the guest and one for the bride and purchase a few inexpensive shower game prizes. The classic must have bridal shower game is the one where the bride is asked questions about her husband to be and must show how well she knows him.

The Bridal Shower Fortune Cookie Pail  from Remember Our Day makes the cutest gift for the bride-to-be or bridal shower hostess.  The adorable reusable pail comes filled with 20 pre-wrapped fortune cookies, each containing a question for the bride.

Lastly, make sure to purchase a bridal shower guest/gift book to help the bride-to-be remember all of her guests and gifts, have thank you cards on hand for her, take lots of pictures, and have a great time!