Team Ace

There are so many people involved in bringing together a successful wedding, don't you know! I call them TEAM ACE (ace is our initials - cheesy I know). Each of them has a part to play in making your special day come together, it's really important that you take time to choose your team members properly.

In TEAM ACE we have:

- our church and officiant

- our reception venue

- wedding planner

- day of coordinator

- photographer

- videographer

- caterer

- designer and printer

- bridal and grooms wear

- seamstress

- cake maker

- hair and make up

- registry

Anyone who knows me, knows that I research to the end and if I need to find out something, I will be on Google quicker than you can say 'can you find..?'

We started 'planning' our wedding back in September 08 and I refused to buy any bridal magazines until the New Year, because I wanted to see how far I could get with the Internet only, plus it'a cheaper, right! I was amazed at all the things I could find. There were different websites, blogs, e-zines all about weddings, showing inspiration ideas, actual weddings, DIY projects - you name it. Some of my favourite are listed to the right of the post.

I also found that because there are no geographical boundaries online, you can get the opinions and insight from people across the Globe and are not restricted to things that are local. This really helped me when I was looking at traditional Nigerian weddings to get an idea of what to expect.

Alongside all of this, when I got engaged one of my bridesmaids bought me a wedding planning binder, which was a fantastic gift - thanks Em! It arranged all the different things you need to do into sections and allowed you to do your research, make notes and plan for your wedding. I also bought 'The Wedding Book' by Mindy Weiss, which I had seen recommended online. Mindy a world renowned Wedding and Event planner, put all her planning advice and tips down into a wedding book and I found it particularly useful especially around wedding etiquette and traditions.

(image source)

Brides to be out there -  in all of this make sure you have a clear idea what you and your fiancé want for your wedding, because it will help you as you make decisions around who to work with and what is or isn't important for your special day.

Over the next couple of weeks I will be writing a 'How we chose our...' mini series - so stay tuned. Some team members won't be revealed until after the big day, but I will give you insight into how we chose them.

How did you got about choosing your 'team' members?

Happy Monday! Roundup

Alas Monday is upon once again. It’s amazing how quickly the week seems to go these days. The great venue hunt continues and I thank you all for your advice and tips. I am confident by God’s grace we will close this deal by the end of the week. Have put together our wedding timeline, its amazing how much time you think you have – not true at all. Any tips on what projects to work on first would be appreciated. Mr E has been great, really getting involved and I value his opinion a lot!

This last week we have discovered that we have a lot of talented friends, people who have stepped up to offer their services to help with the wedding. Ever.so.grateful!

The sun has been out, a lot recently, so much so that I've had to dig out my sunglasses - yay. I even ventured out today without a coat! Bring on summer. I don't know what it is, but everyone seems to be much happier when the sun is out!

Calling all foodies - I need your recipes! I'm on the lookout for some new and interesting meals. It been a while since I did an 'In my kitchen' post and I'm desperate to get out of my rice - pasta – potato - chicken rut. Do you have any great recipes for meals I could try? I love anything spicy and they can be from any culture or country. Willing to try anything once and as ever Mr E will play the faithful guinea pig.  I will report back on his verdict with pictures of how my version turns out. 

Feel free to send me any of your favourites {sweet and savoury} to info@fromnowtillido.com or just drop a note to say hi! Love hearing from you guys.

Hope all is well - have a wonderful week!

Weekend Wedding Love: Kids

Ah! The big kid debate.

Should they or shouldn’t they be invited.

I love children and have been to weddings where they were present and weddings where they weren’t. When your battling with huge guest lists, cutting out children seems like an easy option {and something we did consider in the early days} but having thought it through it’s not something we felt 100% comfortable with, forcing our friends to have to leave their children at home. When we floated the idea, a number of people made it clear that they wouldn’t attend if their kids weren’t invited or that they would just bring them anyway {the latter scenario I witnessed at an event last year where a guest had blatantly decided to ignore the ‘no kids’ rule and there were these two children sat at table in a sea of adults}.

I love the innocence that children bring to weddings. Their laughter, their questions, their boldness. The cute lone ranger who is the first onto the dancefloor and encourages the ‘big people’ to get their groove on. There is an atmosphere children bring that you just can’t recreate. Plus weddings are about family, children are family. It’s good for them to be there.

On the attendant side we are having a flower girl and a page boy, both of whom are under 6 years old, we cherish them dearly and have good relationships with their parents.

What’s your take on children at weddings?

Photo {Jide Alakija}

Err… this is a Nigerian Wedding

Venue hunting is sooo frustrating.

We have several variables which we need to attain to and the fact that we’re 12 weeks away {which seems like ages} it isn’t at all. June seems to be a month where brides have booked their venues a year, even two years in advance !?!

We need a place that can take several hundred people {a small intimate gathering isn't happening anymore}, will allow external caterers, is free on the day and doesn’t cost the earth.

I was making calls on lunch break today and one conversation went like this..

Me: Hi. I’m just calling to see if you have availability on the 26th June for a wedding reception for X number of people.

Venue*: Let me check…ah yes we do. Our X room can accommodate that number. Is it an English, Jewish or Asian wedding? {apparently there are only three types of weddings these days}

Me: Neither. It is Nigerian.

Venue: Oh right? {Pause} What kind of food will you be wanting?

Me: Nigerian

Venue: Well we do offer various Caribbean options?

Me: I’m not Caribbean

Venue: Well we would have to get the Chef to see if he can make any of your dishes as we don’t allow external caterers.

Me: That would fine if I knew the food would turn out okay. There is a difference between a chef following a recipe and a Nigerian making the food themselves

Venue: Well we don’t offer the option of outside caterers for health and safely reasons

Me: Rrrright. So what happens if Chef can’t make the dishes to our standards, what are our options? Also what you will charge me for what you will call ‘exotic’ dishes will be a lot higher than what my caterer will charge me. What happens then?

Venue: We would have to decline the booking.

Me: Wow! So you’re willing to lose business because you won’t allow a Nigerian couple to have Nigerian food at their own wedding?

Venue: Yes

Me: Hmmm. Okay.

Venue: Sorry we can’t help you.

This call made me so mad! How rude! Am I overreacting? A lot of venues seem to be reacting this way. You either have to fall into the English, kosher, Asian or Caribbean category or you are not catered for and that’s after you know they have the availability but they are not willing to be flexible. Anyone else experience similar frustrations?

* National Motorcycle Museum – shame on you!!!

Making it relevant…

I love how the Bible is so practical even today. God’s word is so fresh and relevant, you wouldn’t think you were reading a book written over 2000 years ago. 

Take Ephesians 4:25-32 - that’s relationship advice right there.

v25 No more lying. Each of you must tell the truth to one another, because we are all members together in the body of Christ

 

v26 If you become angry, do not let your anger lead you into sin, and do not stay angry all day

 

v27 Don’t give the Devil a chance

 

v29 Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.

 

v31 Get rid of all bitterness, passion and anger. No more shouting or insults, no more hateful feelings of any sort.

 

v32 Instead be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ

 

These verses are great reminders of how we should live life and relate to others. What verses have spoken to you recently?