Events You Cant Miss: Tastings by TUM

Hello Everyone!!


Many of you may remember the great event we were apart of last year, The Urban Marketplace 2011 (TUM 2011)? Well guess what? They are BACK with an even more amazing and scrumptious event. This Saturday, March 24th, 2012 from 3pm-6pm they will be holding an event called Tastings By TUM!! 


This event is advertised as a FOOD & DESSERT showcase that is sure to WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!! your palate. If you are a 2012 or 2013 bride searching for THE perfect appetizer, entree, or dessert for your event,  THIS is where you want to be!  There will be a variety of exclusive caterers and bakers in attendance to help you conjure up the PERFECT menu! We hope to see you there!!


Be aware that this event is RSVP only! 


Click this link here to RSVP ----> http://www.kojami.com/web/event?e=nmm84#.T2fkWcUgew1

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Ah! Mazing Vendor: Sorrela Jewelry and Accessories

Hello!!!

Yesss it is vendor time again! Today I am bringing you the lovely Yuwa Sorrela of Sorrela Jewelry and Accessories. It was truly a pleasure working with her on this post because she was so responsive and a genuinely kind soul! I have been seeing her pieces on African fashion show runways for the past couple of years now but never knew who was the master mind behind all of it, until recently! I personally am a fan of her styling and i know you guys will love it! The pieces she finds and puts together are INCREDIBLY affordable and very chic! Be sure to check her out! Enjoy readers!

Memi: How did you get into the accessory business and what keeps you in it, what do you love about it? 

Yuwa: Sorrela is Italian for Sisters. And me starting my company actually started as a joke. Whenever my friends and I would hang out, they would always ask me to sell them my jewelry on the spot. I thought it was quite ridiculous. So I said to myself that I would buy two of every piece of jewelry I had in the case that if someone wants it I can sell it to them but still be safe and have another pair handy at home. That was three years ago and Sorrela is still going strong.

 What I love about the business is that Sorrela is for the fashion forward woman who seeks to express her individuality through simple, sophisticated pieces, while celebrating her bond with her natural born sisters and those amazing friends who have inevitably become sisters.

Memi:What inspires you?

Yuwa: The art of fashion. Fashion is a way of creating and mixing pieces that work together. Fashion is an expression of everything that makes us human.

Memi: So let's say I have the perfect LBD (little black dress) and I'm headed to a wedding as a guest, what are 3 accessories you would add to transform your dress from plain to HOTT? 

Yuwa: It depends on what kind of LBD it is. Is it strapless? If it is then I would definitely add a nice big and bold necklace that will accentuate the neck. Hand accessories are a staple in fashion now, so I’d definitely wear a ring or a bracelet. Lastly, a cute clutch will complete the look.

Memi: What is your accessory pet peeve, like what do you hate to see people do, fashion wise? 

Yuwa: Lol, that’s a good question. The truth is I try not to judge because I believe that if a person looks in the mirror before they leave their house then they certainly do not see anything wrong with the way they look. So I usually say, 'it looks good on them “ALONE”' lol.

Memi: What is YOUR personal favorite accessory?

Yuwa: My favorite pair of accessories would be a pair of earrings. I cannot leave the house without a pair of earrings whether studs or hoops. 

Memi: What is the next move for you and Sorrela? Where do you want to see it go?

Yuwa: The next move for Sorrela is to provide, personal accessory consulting services for brides as well as fashion styling.

Memi: What are some accessory trends you've noticed with brides and bridesmaids this summer? Do you foresee any trends for next season?

Yuwa: I don’t think this is a trend, or at least I hope it isn’t becoming one, but recently at Kim K’s wedding, her guests were allowed to wear white. The color white is a sign of purity and should only be worn on the wedding day by the bride. Kate Middleton’s sister and bridesmaid Pippa also wore white at the royal wedding. We saw the same thing at Kim Kardashian's wedding.

As for accessories I am against brides wearing necklaces with their dress. I am not sure I get it yet. A pair of earrings and a bracelet I believe is enough. Except of course the necklace is a statement piece then that’s an exception --which is rare.

Memi: What is some advice you would give a planning bride who is totally confused about what jewelry to wear for her wedding?

I would ask her to paint a picture of how she would like both her and her bridesmaids to look. I also find that a lot of brides aren't exactly sure of what they want. They have the idea but they need an expert to guide them. I would advise her to take it easy and let her know that accessories should be the least of her worries.
 

Memi: What services do you offer? How can our readers contact you?

Yuwa: I offer bridal services to brides who are looking for accessories for their bridal party. I sell jewelry and other staple accessories such as brooches, necklaces and clutches.

Readers can contact me on my website www.sorrela.com. There’s a contact form that they can fill out to ask me any questions. 

**SORRELA IS OFFERING ALL BCG READERS A 10% DISCOUNT ON EVENING BAGS AND CLUTCHES**

Contact them and let them know you heard about Sorrela HERE!

Stay Beautiful My Loves,

Memi

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Have You Always Wondered???: Yoruba Traditional Engagement/Wedding Ceremony

Hello Guys! Today I have a post answering questions some people may have! The question of the day is what goes into a Yoruba Traditional Engagement/Wedding and what is it all about??

In Yoruba culture, the engagement ceremony is seen as the actual wedding ceremony, with the church event and reception being a formality due to Western influences. The engagement ceremony is held a couple of weeks or during the week leading up to the church event. The groom is dressed in an agbada and underneath that he wears, buba ati sokoto (men's blouse and pants). On his head he wears a fila (cap). The bride is in iro ati buba (wrapper and women's blouse) accompanied by an ipele (the garment on her shoulder) and a gele (headgear). Around her neck she wears traditional beads called iyun. These are made from red coral. The fabric used for the agbada, ipele and gele is aso-oke, specially handwoven for the couple for the day. Typically, the aso-oke design is unique and never repeated for anyone else and is usually chosen by the bride's mother at the weaver's store. The buba ati sokoto as well as iro ati buba are usually in a lace fabric and worn only by the couple on that day. Below is a photo of an example of the outfits the couple will typically wear.

S67 Photography

Traditional marriage consists of two parts. The Introduction & The Engagement. It is now common for these two to flow into each other as they are held on the same day while the wedding ceremony for a Christian couple takes place soon after, in the church. This is akin to the practice in the Biblical times when a bride is betrothed to her husband but the wedding celebration is at a future time.

The Introduction is the part of the ceremony where the groom’s family introduces themselves to the bride’s family and also makes known their intention to ask for the hand of the bride (from the bride’s family) in marriage to their son. This is done through the help of a spokesperson on both sides of the families. The spokesperson on the groom’s side is referred to as The Standing Chairman (“alaga iduro” in the Yoruba language). The spokesperson on the bride’s side is referred to as The Sitting Chairman (“alaga ijoko” in the Yoruba language). Most of the exchanges will be between The Standing Chairman and The Sitting Chairman. The groom and his friends are normally asked to "dobale" (prostrate) as a form of respect in front of the bride's family, in order to show how SERIOUS he is about marrying their daughter!!

S67 Photography

Then next, a proposal letter written by the groom and his family is presented to the bride’s family and in return, an acceptance letter is given to the groom’s family and the engagement follows. 

The Engagement is the part where the groom’s family is expected to bring the items listed in the engagement list given to them. This list is often agreed upon ahead of time and may include some of the following items: yams, honey, salt, fish, drinks, a suitcase of clothes for the bride, The Bible, an engagement ring, etc. Each of these items has its own significant symbolism which serves as the spring board for prayers during the ceremony. Below is an example of a "engagement list" (the amounts are in "Naira", Nigeria's national currency)

Typical Yoruba Traditional List for the Groom

-Engagement Bible	-Owo Isigba(fee to open the gifts on this list (usually packaged))- ₦ 500
-Engagement Ring	Dowry - ₦ 5,000
-One Big Suitcase	-Owo Omo Ile Okunrin(Money for all male children) - ₦ 500
-2 Different Pairs of Shoes and Bags	-Owo Omo Ile Obinrin(money for all female children) - ₦ 500
-2 Head Gears (of high quality)	-Iyawo Ile - (money for all wives in the family) ₦ 500
-Gold Wrist Watch	-Owo Iya Gbo(money for bride’s mother’s consent) - ₦ 1,000
-1 Traditional Cloth (Aso- Oke)	-Owo Ijoko Agba (money for all the elders in he family) - ₦ 1,000
-4 Other Assorted Clothes	-Owo Ijoko Iyawo(Money to bring in bride) - ₦ 1,000
-42 pcs Obi (Kola nut)	-Owo Isiju Iyawo(money to unveil the bride) - ₦ 1, 000
-42 pcs Orogbo(Bitter kola)	-Owo Ikanlekun (Entrance fee) - ₦ 500
-42 pcs Atare (Alligator pepper)	-Owo Baba Gbo (money for bride’s father’s consent) - ₦ 500
-1 Decanter of Pure Honey	-Owo Phone(money for phone calls) - ₦ 500
-1 Big Dish of Aadun(peppered Corn meal)	-Owo Plane (money for travel to groom’s family house)- ₦ 500
-1 Big Dish of Sugar	-Reading of Letter - ₦ 500
-42 pcs Big Eja Osan (Dry fish)	-Owo Alaga Ijoko(money for MC) - ₦ 500
-1 Big Dish of Salt	-4 Cartons of Five Alive
-42 Tubers of Big Yam	-4 Crates of Can Drinks
-1 Roll of Sugar	-6 Bottles of Wine
-1 Big Bag of Salt	-2 Crates of Can Malt
-Umbrella	-1 Empty Decanter

An example of gifts the Groom's family will bring to the engagement ceremony

The groom will present the bride with her engagement ring. Both the bride and groom are then prayed for by the heads of both families including their parents and others appointed on each family’s behalf.

 After prayers, families and friends of the bride and groom are invited to eat and dance. 

A Mother holding on to her daughter while praying for her for the last time b4 she joins into another family (Google)

What do you guys think?? Do you have any other questions about Yoruba Engagements??? Ask away!! 

Stay Beautiful My Loves,
Memi

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Ah! Mazing Vendors: Fotos by Fola!

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of Atlanta's up and coming photographers named Fola Sogunro! Who was actually the 2011 WeddingWire Bride's Choice Award Winner! The name of his company is Fotos by Fola and he does WONDERFUL work! It was such a pleasure speaking with Fola because it was sooo evident how passionate he is about what he does! His passion for photography made me GLAD that I've found my passion because he made it so clear that once you have found what you love to do, and you begin to do it. There is absolutely NO greater feeling! The happiness and satisfaction that I sensed from him is truly inspiring. What I took from this interview is that if you are not doing what you love, get up, find out what it is and GET ON IT ASAP! You'll be so much happier with your life! Thank you sooo much Fola for a great interview!  

BCG: Tell me about yourself and how you got into photography!

Fola: Well my journey into photography is one that wasn't planned or even thought about in the past. It's just something that I had a passion for in general, growing up whenever I went to parties and events I was always the one taking pictures. After the events I would always get call backs like "hey, your pictures are really good, you should do it professionally!" So I can say it was never something that I thought I would do, but I just had a natural eye for it. I was just able to capture beautiful moments and emotions,  the basic skills that make a photographer good, kind of came natural to me. One day my wife basically pushed me and just said hey, "Just go and do it!!" So that is really what made me get started in photography. From there I took a few photography workshops and classes to get a better understanding of camera and lighting equipment and everything else was pretty much from self-eaching and experience. In my opinion, experience has definitely been the BEST teacher!

BCG: What do you love the most about photography?

Fola: Man, that is a good question! The main reason I got into it is just the PEOPLE! I love being able to capture so much joy, happiness, and fulfillment. It really makes me able to enjoy my life that much better when I deal with happy people day in and day out. Life is not all rosy and smooth but that moment when you can just capture the beauty of life and put it in a time capsule is something special. So that, whenever you are down you can look at a picture of happy times and say "yes this is how happy I felt on that particular day". I just love when I go to events and parties and I can just capture the joy and excitement of the day and it lets me know how much I love to see people happy! I more so like to capture the raw emotions like the way friends look at one another, the groom's expression when his bride walks down the aisle or people dancing and having a good time on the dance floor. I love the people part of photography, that is why my motto is "Life.Passion.Art" because there IS an art in the way I try to capture my photos and it is a passion of mine and I want to showcase people just loving LIFE! 

BCG: Do you only do wedding photography?

Fola: No I do weddings, lifestyle shoots (i.e. maternity sessions, baby shoots, proposals, family sessions, etc) I don't do much of club parties or business shoots or anything like that. I'm more focused around family life, weddings, and events.


BCG: What is your favorite thing to shoot? Weddings, maternity, families? What do you LOVE to photograph?

Fola: My favorite things to shoot are engagement sessions and weddings. What I really love about engagement sessions is that it's like no other thing. It is an opportunity for a future bride and groom to kick back and have fun. They get to have fun at their favorite location, not worried about rushing to the reception or anything like that. It's a great  opportunity for the couple and the photographer to get to know one another and become comfortable with the way I take pictures and stuff. I'm a very laid back photographer so we just go in there and freestyle. I always tell my couples to be themselves and act how they act on a regular day, however u touch, play fight, show affection, whatever you do on a day to day basis, just do it! I'll just be a guy standing around with the camera documenting it, LOL! That really is when the best pictures come forth, in my opinion!  With weddings it is THE day, your beautiful day! It is a day everyone looks forward to, so there are certain emotions that are evoked this day that you wont get any other time, so it's important to get them on camera. Even sometimes when I'm shooting I'll get chills like "wow that was powerful" so it really is a unique experience. 

BCG: What motivates you to pick up your camera every day and shoot!

Fola: First thing is the passion! I just love to do it, regardless of how much you pay me to do it, I started off doing it for free so paying me is just a bonus. I just enjoy taking pictures so that alone helps me go through the thousands of pictures I have to edit and lug equipment around. I love to do it so that fuels me. Also, I love having the ability to create something that will make my client happy for a very long time! That motivates me to do my best work on EVERY single image before my client sees it. I hate to disappoint so I always try to go above and beyond, so that way if it is not what the customer might expect I feel okay knowing that I did everything I could for them.

BCG: Who would you say is your dream client? Who would you LOVE to shoot?

Fola: I would love to shoot for President Barack Obama! That would be an opportunity I would leap at. He's something like royalty and I'd love to be remembered as the guy who photographed President Obama.

BCG: What would you call your photography style?

Fola: It is definitely photojournalistic. Which is more of a documentary style because I just follow the day as it progresses. If you see a slide show or blog post I want you to be able to tell exactly what was going on, I want it to tell a story. I don't like when there is a disconnect between pictures so I like for the pictures to have some sort of sequence and I want the emotions of such a beautiful loving day to come out. 

BCG: What is some advice you would give readers that are currently looking for a wedding photographer?

Fola: Well my advice is to know EXACTLY what you want! Every bride is different so I know everyone is not going to want the same thing, one bride might prefer a traditional photography style as opposed to a photojournalistic one. But it is important for the couple to sit down and do research to get a feel for what you want. Once that is all taken care of it is important to go through all the avenues to find the right photographers. Make sure to read reviews and interview your photographer. Honestly as a couple you have to LIKE your wedding photographer, you have to be able to get along and laugh and joke in order to have the best pictures. You don't want a photographer that is too pushy and will mess up your sparkle on that day. For example, a more laid back photographer will not mesh well with a bride who WANTS to be told what to do and is looking for a more authoritative photographer. A couple who wants to be free to be themselves, act normally will want to hire a photographer who is less structured and is just good at capturing life as it happens. I would also say to planning couples try not to use price as an indicator of quality. There are some photogs out here that WILL charge an arm and a leg and will not do as good of a job as someone who doesn't charge as much and vice-versa. It's all about getting someone who is passionate for you and will do the best for you not because someone has a celebrity brand name or on the other side, because someone is really cheap.

BCG: Where do you see Fotos by Fola in the next 5 years?

Fola: I definitely see great things! I see us continuing to get better, exceed expectations and just growth. I hope to be able to grow as far as energy, quality of work, and just everything. I want to know we are on the way to being a great global brand. Where as if you say my name in Nigeria they will know "Oh yeah I know Fotos by Fola!" LOL! So yeah I'm just really all about planting seeds right now and watering them to grow and getting better and better in my craft so that all other things will follow. 

BCG: Do you have any other parting words to share with our readers, anything I might have missed??

Fola: Yeah, just for anyone who is interested in getting into photography just follow your heart and stay focused. Try to get better everyday and link up with people that are good at what they do and try to feed off the knowledge they have to offer. There are a lot of photogs out here but if you have the eye and passion for photography, there is nothing stopping you!

Thank you SOOOO much Fola for sharing your time with us here and our readers! We pray you continue to increase and grow in your craft! May God bless you! Leave any comments here for Fola let him know what you think!! If you would like to contact Fola you can reach him through these various ways!!

404.886.1330 mobile
706.634.4004  fax

 info@fotosbyfola.com email
 www.fotosbyfola.com/blog blog site
 http://www.fotosbyfola.com/ web site

http://www.twitter.com/fotosbyfola twitter
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fotos-by-Fola/175176135843281 facebook
http://www.linkedin.com/pub/steve-sogunro-mba/1/91/35a linkedin 

Stay Beautiful My Loves,
Memi

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Sneak Peek!! Mide and Saki's Wedding

Heyy Lovelies!!

I had the honor of attending one of  THE "chic-est" and  most elegant weddings of this wedding season so far! And of course we had the honor of designing and decorating the entire event!!!!!

 I loved everything about this wedding from the brides gown, to her color scheme, the centerpieces, to the custom gobo design, and ESPECIALLY the lighting that illuminated the room in various colors throughout the night.  The MC had us CRACKING up and the bartending service had the most delicious slushy drinks and "mocktails" (YUMMY).   This was a wedding absolutely DONE right. 


Here are a few photos  we took to share with you guys! We will DEFINITELY be doing a full feature of this wedding as part of our "Beautiful Weddings" series once we get our hands on the professional photos.

Congratulations again Mide and Saki! Your wedding was trulyyy beautiful!! Thanks for making us part of your special day.

I LOVEEEE this gobo!!! So sexy!!

Glimpse of her dress :-)

Here is thier Stunning Wedding Video trailer, done by the talented crew @ Maverick Productions

Vendors: 

Event Design, Floral, and Decor: BCG Events

Photographer: Dotuns Photo Lounge

Event Coordinator: Vintage Ivy Events

Videography: Maverick Productions

Location: Hippodrome Theater

Thanks for reading! What do you think?? Talk to me!

Stay Beautiful My Loves,
Memi

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Ah! Mazing Vendor: Onada Photography

Hey guys!! 

I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing one of the premier photographers in the area. She was such a delight to talk to, so personable, and bubbly! I hope you enjoy the interview as much as I did!

Memi: Tell us about yourself and how you got into photography. 

Onada:  I’ve always liked taking pictures since I was little, I’ve always owned a camera and liked taking pictures. I also loved getting my picture taken! I think it all tied to the fact that my Dad was a huge photo enthusiast. He always had really fancy Nikon’s and all this expensive camera gear and he was always taking pictures of us. So we have all of our albums from when we were born to when we were ten and growing, and just loads and loads of pictures of us.  About three and a half years ago I purchased an entry level Nikon SLR (single lens reflex) camera and was attending a friend’s wedding in Jamaica. She was getting married on a resort and had to use the resort’s photographer but he decided to get there after the ceremony began. So my friend asked me if I could use my camera and take pictures of them getting ready. I did and I actually really, really liked it. That is when I realized OMG I can actually do something with this! So when I got back from the wedding I got her pictures ready and she LOVED them! She liked them more than the resort photographers pics, haha! From there I put an ad out and that is how I pretty much got into the wedding business. 

Memi: What do you love the MOST about photography?

Onada:  I just love looking at the pictures I’m taking. I am really big on visual memories, like I love watching old videos and looking at pictures. There is a picture for literally EVERY phase of my life and I just LOVE having them to look at. So that is what makes me love photography! For example, if I see a friend for five minutes and we don’t get to spend that much time together, if we are able to take a picture together I will always be able to keep that memory with me.  Photography also helps me meet people because I am kind of introverted so I don’t really go out of my way to meet people but with this I get to meet a LOTT of people and make a lot of new friends. 

Memi: What is your favorite thing/event to shoot?

Onada:  The wedding ceremony itself, is my favorite thing to shoot, and then engagement sessions. I say the ceremony because nowadays people take marriage so lightly, but at that special moment at the altar what they are saying to each other is just so beautiful and overwhelming. There have been times when I’m shooting weddings and I’m like standing there crying, hahaha! I’m like OMG I’m supposed to be taking pictures and I’m standing here crying, so that WHOLE emotional aspect of the ceremony is my favorite part because it’s just so important to the couple and the family! It’s just one of those moments, like once it’s done you cant take it back but you can always remember it with the pictures and videos.  I like engagement sessions because I get to interact with the couple. It’s just me and them, no guests, no bridal party just us! We get to talk to each other and get to know each other and that is where I have met a lot of my friends through photography. I still talk to and have lunch with a lot of my former brides. 

Memi: What motivates you to wake up every day and want to pick up your camera and shoot?

Onada: I just love doing it! There are just so many beautiful things out there that I just feel like how can I NOT photograph this!  Even if I don’t have my SLR I have an iPhone, and I’m ALWAYS taking pictures on my phone! I’ll take pictures of random things, like while I’m shopping or of a gorgeous tree; I’m just always taking pictures! There are so many pretty things out there and what I see makes me want to just photograph things! Especially, in the summer I’m just like, take a picture of me in front of this flower, or in front of this tree, hahaha!

Memi: Where do you draw your inspiration from?

Onada: I read a lot of fashion magazines and books and I also follow my favorite photographers. Two of my favorite photographers are Jose Villa and Elizabeth Messina their work is just SO beautiful! I still read a lot of wedding magazines just to look at pictures and look at what is going on in the industry. I watch a lot of fashion shows just to see what people are wearing, how people are posing, etc. I get a lot of inspiration from fashion, I LOVE fashion!  During weddings you have limited control over who you photograph and what the wedding will look like because you are only there to document it.  So I try to draw inspiration from my clients. I ask them what do you want your day to look like? What do you imagine yourself looking like when you get your pictures back? When they give me their ideas I keep them in mind when I’m taking their pictures. For example, if the couple lets me know they love laughing and having a good time I will try to capture that essence of them or if they say they are more romantic then I wont only get pictures of them acting crazy I will make sure to get some romantic pictures in there! 

Memi: Whose wedding/event would you LOVE to shoot?

Onada: I would love to do an event that Preston Bailey has designed or like a suburban chic vintage type of event. As far as celebrities hmmm.....I would love to shoot someone like Lily Allen’s wedding. I really like her music, her fashion sense, and her personality. I like her because I think she will really have a sense of doing something different. I ALSO love Tracee Ellis Ross, I think that would be really nice too! If I had those opportunities I would JUMP at them!

Memi:  What is some advice you have for our readers who are searching for a wedding photographer? 

Onada: Definitely pick a photographer where you LOVE their images and you LOVE their personality. You have to love their personality because this person will be in your face for eight hours with a camera so you want to have fun with them and not be irritated by them. Don’t settle for someone! Make sure you are on the same page with them! When looking don’t focus just on the money, look at the work first, then based on their work then look into the budget. The WORST thing is trying to look for a budget photographer and at the end of the day you hate your pictures when you get them. First step, is to LOVE the images, love the photographers personality, look at their work FIRST, then think can I afford this? You want to be able to look at your images and say OH I LOVEE my wedding pictures and have BEAUTIFUL  images to look back at forever! 

Memi: Where do you see Onada in the next 5 years?

Onada: Still taking pictures and doing weddings. I want to be able to do a mix of like high-end, mid-level weddings because I don’t want to just limit myself to one market. I want to start doing more family events and baby portraits because I think babies are fun to photograph. I plan on being very successful with my business and staying true to myself and still pursuing my passion! 

Memi: As a female entrepreneur do you have any advice for any young ladies that want to get in the industry or start their own business period?

Onada: Business in general is challenging especially as a woman who has so many roles, especially if you work, are married, have kids, etc. Those are already full time jobs. So it can make running your own business extrememly hard. I say when you love something and are passionate about it just find a way to carve out an HOUR In your day everyday to do what you love. I don’t watch a lot of television, I would love to sit around and watch Kim Kardashian, Real Housewives, etc…but at the end of the day those are hours you can not get back. Try to carve out one hour of your day every day, get on your blog, network with other people, that little hour you carve out will build up over time and it will PAY OFF in the long run. I still work full time and I sleep really late, like 1-2am and I have to wake up really early to go to work but I LOVE doing it. So when you love doing something it doesn’t really feel like work, learn to invest in yourself! And don’t think because you are doing something part time and someone else is doing it full time that you will never get ahead! You don’t know how that person started or what it took to get them where they are now.  Everybody starts somewhere! Learn to network and get to know other women that are in your field to help you as well! 

To see more of what Onada Photography has to offer check out her site here:
http://onadaphotography.net/Weddings/index2.php#/home/

and her super cute blog
http://onadaphotography.net/blog/

Stay Beautiful My Loves,
Memi

 

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AH! Mazing Vendor: Vintage Ivy Events

Hey guys!! Today I present to you Tope Olanrewaju of Vintage Ivy Events an extremely talented and passionate wedding/event coordinator! I had SUCH an great time talking with her because she was just so excited to talk about her passion for weddings! I hope you enjoy reading!!

Memi: Tell me about yourself and how VIE came about?

Hello!! My name is Tope Olanraweju and Vintage Ivy Events came about with the idea of me just loving to plan events! I started planning events when I was in college in Northern Virginia at George Mason University to be exact. I was overseeing a department there and as the office specialist I was in charge of all the university events for that department. I didn’t realize I had the bug then, I just knew that I enjoyed planning events for the school. A few years later in 2004 I decided to start helping friends and family plan their weddings. They would just ask me questions and I would just tell them what I knew, meanwhile I got my certification as an event and wedding planner. I got married in 2008 and around that time I decided to launch my own business. The name was the first thing that happened, it’s actually the name of the street that I live on Vintage Ivy Lane. It was just the first address that I could remember so it just stuck! So the business started from there and I just enjoy it, I love planning events and a little decorating here and there.

 
Memi: What was your most amazing experience as a wedding planner? Your worst?

 My first wedding was my most amazing experience, the reason why is because it was my first! It was a testament to myself to prove that I could do it. It is very different trying to plan a wedding that is not your own. But you have to use the same mentality you would use to plan your own wedding and say okay what can I do for this wedding that I didn't do for my wedding. So I had to think of all the things that I forgot to do for my weddings and do it for this wedding. That is exactly what I did for the first wedding I did and it made it sooo exciting from there! The bug did NOT leave me after that I just got more and more excited for every single one. I would definitely have to say my very first wedding was a testament to show that I could fully plan a wedding.


My worst wedding experience was a few months ago when a bride called me two weeks before her wedding and didn't give me the full breakdown of her wedding. She just gave me bits and pieces and I didn't realize till about a day or two before the wedding that her Mom was doing one part and she was doing another part so therefore NOTHING added up. So when Mom is planning one thing and the bride is planning something different that means communication is at a disconnect. So one thing I've learned to do with my brides is ask them who else is planning your wedding? Is it you and your husband, or you, your husband and your Mom or mother in law? If your Mom is helping you plan I need to know what HER contribution is to the planning process and what she has covered or not. Once I know that we can all be on the same page.  

Memi: Many people do not feel they need a wedding planners, can you explain the importance of having help on that day?

The importance of having help on that day is planning out what is going to happen from beginning to end. What a lot of people don’t realize is that there should not be ANY dead air going on during your wedding. Something should ALWAYS be happening. If you get to a point where nothing is happening for 5-10 minutes that is NOT good. That is what a wedding planner does. They plan what will occur from A to Z. Another thing is, the little things that a bride and groom may not know about because they are NOT in the wedding industry a planner is aware of. A prime example is the toasting time when it is time for the toast, someone has to make sure that all the guests have an open bottle of wine...if that is not done everyone will just be sitting there with an empty glass when it's toasting time.

Memi: What do you love about the wedding industry?

WOW! So much to love about the wedding industry. To be more specific…I love the uniqueness about the bride and groom. There are NO two brides that are the same, so it is so exciting to hear their stories, how they met, their ideas…it’s just MARVELOUS!

Memi: Who is your dream bride to work with?

I love Lady Gaga to pieces! I would love to plan her wedding only because I know she will come up with the craziest ideas and I would just love to design that for her!

Memi: What services does your company provide?

I’m a color person, so I love just about ALL colors! But I have to say burnt orange, I don’t know what it is about that color but when a bride says she is using burnt orange I’m just like whooo yayyy! You’re using a bright color! Hahahaa! But if you ever asked me to use burnt orange I would say no, loll! Because my favorite color is light blue and different shades of blue. And blue is such a calm color, so when a bride tells me a bright color I get excited!


Memi: If you could give all of our readers that are planning one solid piece of advice, what would it be?

Be ORGANIZED! If you are planning your wedding be very very organized! If you are having trouble, get a planner RIGHT away! Don't even hesitate, spend the money on a wedding planner it is so worth it!

Memi:What motivates and inspires you to keep fresh ideas, etc.

My main motivation is style and just being up to date. I love things that are beautiful and elegant! I love things that will make people just smile where they see it and are just like WOW you knew exactly what I was envisioning! That is what keeps me going. The idea that the bride is going to be happy at the end of the day and knowing that she is going to LOVE the end result. Just being able to give that superb service is what motivates me.

 
There you have it!! I loved talking to Tope because she was just sooo in love with all things beautiful and the idea of love! Please leave your feedback! 

TOPE IS OFFERING ALL OF OUR READERS HERE AT BCG $25 OFF A PLANNING PACKAGE IF YOU JUST MENTION OUR BLOG DURING YOUR CONSULTATION! Check out their site http://www.vintageivyevents.com/

Stay Beautiful My Loves,
Memi

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