Amidst your (green) wedding planning, have you found yourself extra stressed, lacking time, and in need of more time for R&R? You’re not alone. So on first pass, I realize that you might think that the last thing you need is to start a wine tasting group. But wine tasting groups offer a great, casual environment to catch up with girlfriends or other couples old and new while peppering the evening with a bit of education. Monthly events are totally doable, bi-monthly are aokay; any more frequent seemed unlikely and less frequent didn’t seem to have the same degree of moment/consistency

 If you’re sold, then the top 10 tips for conducting your wine tasting group are as follows:

-Set the date and location one month in advance; book people for 90 minutes so they think they can squeeze it into their schedule; they’ll end up staying 2-3 hours. Guaranteed.

-Pick a theme. Whether it’s “Bordeaux Basics,” “A Study in Syrah” (tasting Syrah, also known as Shiraz, from around the world), a comparison of Napa Valley and French Chardonnays, or any other theme, a theme helps organize the learning. (You can also totally outsource the decision making/planning and simply sign up for the Jetsetters wine club by Bottlenotes and receive your wine tasting kit for 10 in a box each month. www.bottlenotes.com/jetsetters)

-Invite your 10-12 favorite wine tasting companions, or 5-6 favorite couples.

Question:

I would like to learn more about the new green wedding certification class. How does it work and why do you think wedding planners should take it?

Answer:

With 46% of couples looking for green options, there has never been a better time to go green as a wedding professional. There are so many reasons to take the Green Wedding Professional certification class, but I think this Ripple, hosted by Andre Yap, might be helpful. For additional information, see the Green Wedding Planning Certification class page. 

With so many couples getting engaged over the holidays, wedding vendors are gearing up to sell sell sell. Before you dive into full wedding planning mode, have a plan! The first thing you should do is think and dream about what you want your wedding day to look like.

Just spoke to my Maid of Honor, Isabel. She and the best man are the only parts of a formal wedding party we're having.She is actually a professional event planner in Atlanta, GA, where I lived for 8 years. That will either come in handy or we will kill one another. She is even more opinionated than me, if you can beleive that! But that's also the greatest thing about her: she will definitely let you know what she is thinking. She has great style and an eye for detail. I am a bit concerned that, like me, she will be watching the staff and overseeing the wedding planner on the day of the wedding instead of enjoying herself and celebrating with us as she should be. 

I asked her to come up for another visit so we can get a calendar together and start making some solid plans. We are getting to the 10 month mark and I suppose now is the time to get aggressive. Everyone should have an Isabel, that one person that you know you can depend on no matter what to assist you with all this. Although your husband-to-be may be your best friend, he isn't going to understand the girlie stuff that only your Maid of Honor can. I'm finding out for myself, even just at the beginning stages, that this can be stressful if you let it, and I will need by BFF to lean on.

I can't concentrate when I am hungry, so most of the time I am prepping and tasting food in my kitchen at the restaurant so I hardly sit down for a good meal. I have had to work years at eating healthier.

That being said, I knew that the food at our wedding was going to be a big deal. I have a very strong perspective of what I want to offer our guests. I think that Brad and I have finally agreed on some ideas (whew!) but it would be difficult to find a caterer that would tolerate us. Budget is always one of the first things considered, and I have to admit being a chef and restaurateur and understanding it from a purchasing standpoint has definitely been a plus so far with being able to keep costs down. I will tell you that after visiting a few farms this past weekend I am convnced that anyone can make an incredible, healthy, delicious and budget-friendly wedding menu of any type.

Image: Kuperberg Weddings

From Shawn in San Diego:

With a little bit of effort and research the wedding of your dreams is possible on a budget. The key is to not give up and continue to look if you do not find something that fits within your pocket book. Be creative, check out the bridal magazines, see what they are doing and visit your local craft store to find ways to hand make the details. Most importantly, add eco-friendly touches where you can... being eco-friendly will never go out of bridal style!

Kate's Response: 

Shawn is absolutely right!  in fact, you can save up to 40% off the cost of your wedding by making simple green choices.  I recently wrote a short piece "Save $11,000+ by Going Green on Your Wedding Day."

I am also testing something new a just recorded a Yodio introducing myself and offering a few easy tips to save money and the environment.  Take a look!

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