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Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Vendor Spotlight - HotHouse Design Studio

I first met Mandy Majerik of HotHouse Design Studio several months ago and instantly fell in love with her fun and upbeat personality.  Since then, she has been one of my go-to florists and I had the pleasure of working with her on our booth for PWG Bridal Market.  Read below to get to know Mandy and to see pictures of some of her work!

Why did you choose to work in weddings/events?  How did you get started?
My grandmother owned a florist and after growing up in the business, I decided to focus on wedding and event floral. I love designing and creating everything from the bouquet to the largest of centerpieces.

How would you describe your style/product?
A very unique and modern approach to today’s wedding floral. I listen to the bride and the dreams she has of her day and see it as my focus to design floral to complement her desire and look of her special day – everything from traditional to radically unique.

What separates you from other Birmingham area vendors?
I am very educated in the floral field. I spend my time working with brides from all over Alabama and spend the other time attending wedding and event symposiums across the country keeping abreast with the latest trends in my industry. I continue to educate myself with all of the new material in the market and I am willing to take on a challenge! I love what I do and it makes me appreciate every day I have working with beautiful brides and blooms!

What would you be doing if you did not work in weddings?
I think I would be working at Anthropologie as a visual design director. I love visual merchandising and have a college degree in it! I love taking unusual objects, displaying them in mass and thinking “outside of the box.”

Favorite TV show and why?
I usually spend most of my time flipping through magazines or reading books, so rarely do I catch myself watching much television.  If I have a bit of background noise (which usually leads to a major distraction) I would have to say that I watch HGTV and BRAVO shows.

Funniest moment you've ever witnessed at a wedding?
I have done a Greek wedding where they broke plates on the floor during dancing. It was quite the exciting climax and everyone enjoyed participating!

What advice would you give to brides on choosing a photographer?
Look for a photographer that takes images that reflect the style you would like to portray. Most importantly make sure that you feel comfortable with your photographer – afterall, they will spend all day with you and capture you in all your emotion.

What advice would you give to brides on the wedding planning process in general?
Select your vendors wisely. Make sure to interview each one and ask questions about their background, education in their field and day of expectations. Once you have selected your team of vendors, give them direction to your likes and dislikes, but also remember they are the professionals and can offer wonderful suggestions to make your wedding a magazine caliber event! Trust them.




If you're in need of a florist for your wedding or event, definitely check out Mandy's website and get in touch with her!  I have loved working with her in the past and am looking forward to working with her on several upcoming weddings!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Wedding Catering - Costs & Budgeting


I’ve been posting quite a bit about budgets and wedding costs lately and that’s simply because with the large amount of newly engaged couples starting the wedding planning process, creating a budget is a very necessary beginning step. And it’s often one of the toughest. And what is typically the largest wedding expenditure? That’s right…FOOD! So many people freak out when they see the average cost of a wedding but a large chunk of that money goes to feeding your guests (in addition to the venue they’ll be eating, the chairs they’ll be sitting on, the tables they’ll be sitting at, and the plates and utensils they’ll need to eat with). Now you don’t have to go all out with a five course elaborate meal, the food you serve can be a simple buffet, a light brunch, or a variety of tasty desserts or hors d’oeuvres (I can never spell that term on the first try, even after writing it hundreds of times). But you do need to serve your guests SOMETHING, and it should correspond to the style and time of day of the wedding.
Here’s some background on why wedding receptions are customary to begin with. Prior to the 19th century, wedding ceremonies were followed by feasts typically at the bride’s residence for family, friends, and other members of the community. The ceremony itself was often held in the morning so the meal that followed was usually breakfast or lunch. As weddings became larger and more elaborate, couples starting hosting balls in the evening to celebrate the marriage. Since these feasts or dinners were hosted by the bride and her family, and the wedding couple would “receive” the guests at the door, they became known as “receptions”.
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