A Wedding Warriors mixer on 3/6 at the quirky/cool Ace Hotel & Swim Club was the scene of these lovely pieces. Thanks to Imagine Imagery for the stellar pics!
My Little Flower Shop Strutting Its Stuff at The Ace, Palm Springs
March 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment
Bridesmaids & Groomsmen’s Gifts – Avoid Envy!
November 19, 2012 By Leave a Comment
I’ll never forget a wedding rehearsal dinner I attended where the proud groom beamed as his groomsmen opened their gifts: (then brand-new to the market) ipod shuffles! I stole a glance at the bride across the room gifting garnet jewelry to her dearest friends, matching the maroon dresses they’d wear the next day. Dresses they’d paid dearly for, and would likely be on their way to Goodwill within 48 hours of the bouquet toss.
Gifts that mean something will touch Bridesmaids more than matchy matchy jewelry.
The groomsmen were gleeful as they tore open the little boxes from Apple like kids on Christmas morning, and high-fived one another. The girls sat drinking champagne quietly. Let this be a lesson, brides. Chances are, your bridesmaids already own lovely jewelry they can wear to your wedding. So what if it isn’t matchy matchy? They’ll all show a bit of personality. That leaves you free to give them something that really reflects how much you care, and is not made of Swarovski crystal. Best of all, you get to see your girls high-fiving at your rehearsal dinner. Christmas morning here we come!
Be well and love well,
Dinah
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Why I Said “I Do” to a Destination Wedding In Palm Springs
November 12, 2012 By 4 Comments
My husband and I were planning a destination wedding for October 2010 in Connecticut. We traveled there in late July to nail down the details, and things quickly devolved. Flying home we knew we had to move to plan B – which didn’t exist.
We had a date that family had built plans around, (10/2/10) and it was now August. We flew back to LA and made a phone call that would lead to Palm Springs wedding bliss. On the other end of the line was Gregory Goodman of My Little Flower Shop . Within a week of arriving home we found ourselves in Palm Springs for the weekend, and when it was over we were ready to say “I do.” Here’s why:
- The level of hospitality that we experienced at venues we toured was amazing. Everyone we met so welcoming. People here want and appreciate your business!
Palm Springs: a great place for weddings, and wedding photos! Love the backdrop.
- The town itself has a relaxed vibe and so much character – the shopping, the Mid Century Modern architecture, and the Rat-Pack legacy would be a fun getaway for all the generations of family coming to celebrate with us
- As a resort town, it’s uniquely prepared to host events. The level of professionalism was incredible, and we knew we would be exquisitely taken care of.
- It just felt right. Wherever you choose to hold your destination wedding, you’ve got to feel connected to the place.
Wherever you choose to hold your destination wedding, don’t forget it’s about to join an elite group: the most special places you hold in your hearts as a couple. Make sure it’s somewhere that deserves a spot on that list.
Be well, and love well.
Dinah
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I Want My, I Want My, I Want My…R.S.V.P!
November 8, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Vintage Lace Response Card (Photo credit: blush printables)
In a bygone era, an RSVP was -get this- a handwritten note. An academic has no doubt studied how the formal note evolved into today’s fill-in cards. To event pros, it’s obvious. Guests weren’t replying! It had to be made easier. So the cards became the norm, and then self addressed envelopes, and then self addressed STAMPED envelopes. And yet, guests still don’t seem to get the picture.
What does that mean for brides? That you have to be PROACTIVE. Here are some helpful tips.
- Realistic Roll Out: You’ll read in some books that invitations are traditionally sent 8 weeks before the event. With guests response times as they are, that’s bullfeathers. Allow yourself plenty of time to get responses, and then tack on 2 weeks to chase after people. Don’t add stress by cutting your window too short.
- Double check your response cards: There are too many brides who happily seal their invitations only to turn around and see extra sheets of stamps – they’ve forgotten to stamp the return envelopes. Have a second set of eyes check that everything looks A-OK.
- Enlist The Cool Kids: Get point people to set a good example- if there’s a family matriarch, see if you can get her to RSVP early and let everyone know that’s what’s expected. Have your MOH spread the word among friends, etc.
- Relax A Little: In the end, there are going to be slackers. You’re going to have to have your Mom, and bridesmaids work the phones a little anyway, no matter how hard you try, so there’s no point in fretting that your cards aren’t coming back fast enough.
There you have it! Now all you have to worry about is seating everyone. Piece of cake. Unless you haven’t picked a cake. Which is nothing to worry about – THAT’S a fun one!
Be well and love well.
Dinah
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Nothing better than a happy couple! Exhibit A: Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel
October 24, 2012 By 3 Comments
Yep – for wedding professional there is NOTHING better than the couple being happy after the wedding. So congratulations to the planners (and judging by the grandeur of the affair – there must have been a full team) who pulled off the wedding Justin called “a magical experience.”
We’d like to think we do a fair bit of magic ourselves. Every so often, we get confirmation that our “act” was a success. We couldn’t resist sharing this sweet email from a recent bride we love, Gretchen.
Hi Gregory -
I just had to say THANK YOU for making my bouquet and flowers EXACTLY perfect for our wedding!! you nailed it! i will definitely write a good yelp review, and i will also pass along the pictures when i get them. (Abi Q did the photography). The attached pic is fuzzy, but
We’re so glad that our bride Gretchen loved her bouquet! A perfect Palm Springs bride!
nonetheless…thought i’d share. also, there maybe some on istagram #paulandgretchen.
Anwyay, thank you for getting my flowers TOTALLY right!!!
best,
Gretchen
Thanks for the wonderful note Gretchen! We love those Yelp! reviews, and also those on www.weddingwire.com.
Have a MAGICAL day everyone!
-Dinah
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Horror Stories Are For Halloween! Not The Bride!
October 11, 2012 By 1 Comment
Did you hear about the bride whose dress was burned in a fire the night before her wedding? Did you hear about the groom who locked himself in the hotel bathroom and missed the whole reception? As a florist in an ideal destination wedding location like Palm Springs, I understand why people are compelled to share bridal nightmare tales with wedding vendors. They know we’ve dealt with our fair share, and in their own way, they are showing respect for the sometimes challenging, but always rewarding, work that we do. But for goodness sake people, please stop scaring the brides! Lord knows they’re a skittish bunch, so don’t follow up “Congratulations on your engagement!” with some tale of a wedding gone horribly wrong. It may be funny to you, but to this person diving into the difficult planning process, it’s no laughing matter. So have a little heart. Save the bridal calamity tales for the bridesmaids. Now THAT’s your demographic!
Don’t freak out the bride, please. (Photo credit: Vineet Radhakrishnan)
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Open Sesame! My Little Flower Shop’s Grand Re-Opening Was A Smash!
September 11, 2012 By 1 Comment
What a night! So many thank yous. We “like” our sponsors/vendors and so should you! Hit them up on Facebook. Wedding Warriors, Desert Business Association , Classic Party Rentals , Crater Lake Vodka & Gin, Pastry Swan Bakery, Freeze Photobooth, Musical Affair Entertainment, Alan’s Award Winning Photography and Video, Crush FM, New Leaf Catering, Stephen Archdeacon Gallery, Wil Stiles, Mellany Miller Photography, Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, Palm Desert Chamber, & the Desert Hot Springs Chamber of Commerce. And of course our own intrepid staff at My Little Flower Shop! (did you know that was our favorite Palm Spring florist? hee hee).
And to all who came out to mix, mingle and party down, thank you most of all! The energy was amazing, and we had a fantastic time. We’re going to have to renovate or something – I’ve got to figure out a way to Re Re Grand Open so we can have another great party!
Be well, and love well.
Dinah
Cutting the ribbon at the Grand Opening of Palm Springs florist, My Little Flower Shop
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If Music Be The Food of Love, Play Some Once In A While!
August 20, 2012 By 3 Comments
Many of us have iPods full of music we don’t listen to often enough. What we may not realize is that music is not just the food of love, but the food of memory.
When I hear Wham! Crooning ‘Careless Whisper’ I am catapulted from a Palm Springs florist
let there be music!
shop to a junior high social and am flooded with memories of a guy turning up his nose when I asked him to dance. (What a jerk. Probably still is).
When I hear Taylor Swift start singing “Hey Stephen,” a warm feeling comes over me as I remember the delicious early days when I just realized my then boyfriend (now husband) was the best thing since flexible cutting boards.
When I hear One Direction harmonize on “you don’t know you’re beautiful,” I am reminded of a promo I saw on TLC for Randy To The Rescue using that song, and that I need to keep an eye out this summer for my hairstylist Paul Norton who is all over reality TV!
You get the picture. Your life’s major as well as not-quite-so-epic moments play out to a soundtrack. Get on iTunes, and bring back some memories of your own. Who knows where your recollections will take you!
Be well, and love well.
-Dinah
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My Little Marital Bliss Shop: Never Stop Dating
July 26, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Cadillac CTS Coupé Concept (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
Who’s dating your man? It had better be you honey boo boo child, before, during AND after the wedding. He was beguiled by your charm and fun personality, and fell in love on dates with you. Keep the initial spark alive by still going out regularly- and I don’t mean some kind of obligatory once-a-week dinner that you drag yourselves through. Snooze fest. Think about what you really enjoy doing together, or separately, and have some adventures! You can go as far as a weekend get-away, or stay as close as your own kitchen, but be creative.
Recently I told my husband we were going on a mystery outing. He had no idea where, but loved trying to guess! He’d been talking for the last few weeks about wanting to test-drive a Cadillac CTS Coupe, so I had found a local dealer, and we went on a “Sunday Drive” to go take a look. He was very surprised that I would even come up with such a thing, and was thrilled to pieces. The date was a hit because it was something he was really into, and it warmed his heart that I had been listening.
If your imagination is running a little slow these days, The Dating Divas have a website chock full of ideas to spice things up. (No, not that way. Get your mind out of the gutter). They have themed dates, bargain dates, at-home dates for after the kids go to bed… you get the idea. So go out and get dating!
Be well, and love well.
Dinah
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Who Should the Bride Be On Her Wedding Day? Herself!
July 19, 2012 By 1 Comment
Often brides have a tough time figuring out what they want to look like on the big day. Sweet, or seductive? Classic, or modern? Here’s the key. You want to look like yourself! Your groom fell in love and proposed to you because of who you are – don’t present some exotic version of yourself on the day of the wedding because of some fashion trend or pressure to create dramatic photographs.
Here are three important questions to ask yourself about your look on the big day including your bridal hairstyle, wedding dress, and make-up.
- Are you comfortable? Looking like you walked off a Paris runway isn’t worth having your dress duct taped to you and your hair pulled so tight it gives you a migraine. Most of us don’t live in cultures where it’s a badge of honor to get bruises from your elaborate wedding dress, so find something that fits well, and feels good!
- Will your fiancé recognize you? Do you look like a glammed up version of yourself, or like someone you’ve never met? Your man wants to see someone familiar underneath all the trappings of bride-dom. Keep in mind you’re dressing up for him after all!
- Don’t go for broke. Debt is not cute. If you can’t afford a hair and make-up team, or a $5,000 dress, don’t charge up a storm on credit cards. If your look is important to you, compromise on other budget items to make sure you have the resources you need, or investigate ways around the expenses like bartering for services, or renting a designer gown.
If you stay true to yourself, keep your wits about you, and follow your heart, you’re sure to be a beautiful, comfortable, solvent bride!
Be well, and love well.
Dinah
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