Hi everyone,
I am delighted to answer some of your fantastic questions. There is so much to prepare and plan prior to your wedding, so any help I can provide I hope makes the wedding planning process more enjoyable. Remember stay calm, enjoy the planning allowing you to then be what I want you to be is a Guest at your own wedding!!!!
Happy Wedding Planning,
David Tutera
Subject: I Need David’s Help!
Post: We neglected to notice that on the response cards for my daughter’s wedding in Feb. there isn’t a line for the person to write their name, so many cards are coming back without a name. What should I do? Thanks!
From: vi0613 on December 17, 2008 8:09pm
Do not stress…..handle this with creativity and grace. Send out fun post card style notes. A post card saying, “Hope you are here with us on our special day, and want to make sure we know exactly who will be joining us so let us know.” Then have the lines for your invited guests to fill in and then mail back to you. I know its something that will cost just a bit in postage and to print the cards but its better then have guests arriving and you are not prepared.
Subject: BUDGET QUESTION
Post: If I set aside a certain amount for a very important event and had an idea of the things that I exactly wanted but not sure on how to budget better for certain things, do you think you, (David) could give me an outline of what may be more important to spend on then others?
From: LIsa Williams on December 17, 2008 4:40pm
This is the most important questions when planning your wedding. Every bride must be knowledgeable on what things will cost. The three most expensive items in your wedding plans are:
1. Food and Beverage
2. Decor (flowers)
3. EntertainmentMy biggest advise to all brides is that you do all your homework first to find out what things in your area will cost first before you commit to your vendors. Once you do that then you can decided what you can actually afford. So start with the 1-2-3′s and the fill in.
Subject: Mandy Ferrer Ring
Post: I saw the ring that Mandy was looking at during the show and I fell in love. I absolutely love the idea of the claddagh on the inside of the ring and wanted to know if anyone had more information about it. Please let me know!
From: gwenmorgan on December 15, 2008 4:30pm
This ring came from Michael C. Fina in NYC on 5th Avenue and they have many rings like this. You can visit MichaelCFina.com and check out their jewelry. The ring from Mandy’s episode is a great touch to making sure the personality of the Bride and Groom are part of this special symbolic ring.
Subject: centerpieces!!!
Post: David I love watching your show and getting ideas for my own wedding on June 27,2009. You have shown to have amazing taste and knowledge on how to create the perfect wedding. My wedding planning is almost done except for my centerpieces. I wanted to know if you had any ideas for floral combinations. My colors are wine and champagne. I know I love fire and ice roses and red lilies but I want it to look elegant and romantic. If you have any suggestions on what other flowers to add please let me know. Thats all I ask!!!
From: sherleyg on December 14, 2008 4:26pm
Well I love that you have selected a bold, dramatic color such as Wine. The month of June provides wonderful flower to pick from. First note – be careful when using a dark color such as wine. If the table is not properly lit the flowers can look black on the tables and in the room so go a bit lighter in the color shade. Or make sure to have lots of candles and if you can some lighting to illuminate the floral arrangements. As for flowers selections. Roses in both color tones are great, sweet peas, calla lilies in the deep eggplant color is great for a unique shape in flowers. You can also add grapes around the base in the deep color for texture. My favorite of all is Peony they are amazing and come in white, and a stunning deep burgundy you will LOVE this. Also hydrangea is a fantastic addition to your flowers. I tend to not use a lot of greens but if you want to make sure the color tone of the greens is light in tone. Have fun!!
Subject: Centerpiece Confusion
Post: I am getting married on December 4th and I am deciding on a color scheme. I know I want red silver and white and gold…holiday theme…however I’m having the hardest time deciding on a centerpiece idea. I want something simple, something I am able to make myself. My original thought was a wreath with candles in the center, but now I like the idea of floating candles in a decorated bowl. Im so confused. Any ideas for holiday centerpiece?
From: angeboogie on December 8, 2008 8:03pm
I like your idea but how about alternating the concept. Do two or three designs. Your idea of a wreath of greens and flowers with candle in the center just make sure the candle is large enough to make a statement and have it enclosed in a glass cylinder for both safety but also adds a fantastic look to the table design. The second is you can do a large collection of many candles in the middle of the table. Different size pillar candles both in height and width, votive candles too. Have the candles nestled in bed of rose petals and holly leaves. Add a little bit of opal and gold glitter to the greens and flowers petals. You can also add rose heads for texture. Have a beautiful alternating colored wide ribbon tided around the pillar candles for more color. The third idea is to have glass bowl filled with water and lots of fresh loose cranberries. Then float rose heads and floating candles. Tie around the outside of the glass bowl a wide ribbon that matches the ribbon round the second design. You can also add in the bottom of the inside of the glass bowl loose fake crytals to add the wedding holiday sparkle. These are all things you can do!
Subject: My centerpieces
Post: Hi iam planning my wedding , it will be in febuary and my theme is butterflies. My colors are purple and lilac and ivory. my question is i want to have topiaries as my centerpieces and want to know what else will go with them.
From: rmsparks on December 8, 2008 12:16am
I love butterflies too! So first make sure your topiaries do not block the view across the table as guests needs to see each other. So they need to be very tall or very low, or you can have a topiary in a container, just have the ball (the topiary) at a spot that is above the guests sight line. I have created topiaries out of boxwood foliage or ivy greens and then added an abundance of butterflies. Butterflies come in all colors so use a lot of them and make it more about the butterflies then anything else. To add texture you can then add flowers in your color scheme. Take individual flower head and have the stem in a water tube and then push into the topiaries. This will keep them alive and add the soft texture of flowers. Then have loose flowers and flower petals all around the bottom of the table arrangement. The key here is to make it look beautiful without it looking to theme like.
Subject: Pendant Ceremony
Post: My finance and I have 5 children, 4 girls and 1 boy. We want to add a pendant ceremony to our wedding however I can’t figure out what a proper gift to give my son during the ceremony. I know that we are getting the girls rings but not sure what to get my 13 yr old son. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I love the show and have thought many times how wonderful it would be to be on it. Thanks for everything. – Bride to be, October 10, 2009
From: Octoberbride on December 9, 2008 8:21pm
Thanks for watching the show. You can do an engraved book mark and book signed to him from both of you. My mom gave to me a book on dreams with a message in the front and I have left it by my night stand for over 20 years now. Its a great gift to receive from your mom and the book marks is an extra special touch. of course the traditional cuff links are great and you can mention to him that this is something he can wear as he grows older and becomes a man. Wallet, money clip, tie, and picture frame is all good too. Hope you like the dream book it is very special.
Subject: budget
Post: How much would it cost for David to come and help you with your wedding.
From: kay8922 on December 9, 2008 9:23am
To acquire for my firms services you can go to www.davidtutera.com and send a request for information and my team will get back to you. We do weddings all over the country.
Subject: Dress Nightmare
Post: Hi David, I am getting married on March 14, 2009. I ordered my dress in July to give it enough time before the wedding to get here. The lady had told me by mid November it should be here and when November came I called to check on it. She told me it wasn’t here but that it would be here on December 5th. I was okay about it but a little upset, I still had time. I called the 5th no answer left 2 messages, called again the 6th and left another two messages. I figured she was busy and decide to go to the store with my mother. To my surprise there was a sign that read “MOVED TO ORLANDO. TO PICK UP DRESS GO NEXT DOOR” So, I went next door advised the gentleman I was here to pick up a wedding dress and he tells me he has no wedding dresss for pick up. I looked at my mom and laughed…….I couldn’t believe it. The man said let me call her and he passed me the phone, she explained that my dress isn’t here yet. I told her I realize but when is my dress going to come and she couldn’t tell me, she didn’t know. What can I do? Should I just look for another dress, something that is stocked, or wait? Please help, I need some kind of guidence.
From: gavalos on December 9, 2008 9:04am
Oh my…..you handled this with grace and first I commend you on that so bravo!!! NOW yes go out and find another dress. This is your wedding. Two things. First you have to have your dress and you have to have one you really love! Episode one of my show you saw Wanda who had a dress and she was so sad about it she just did not like it. You do not want to get married in a dress you are so unhappy about. So do not find a replacement just to find a dress. I know this takes time but try and see this as a chance to find something better. I also know this does not help the overall budget but you MUST MUST have a dress you love and look amazing it!!!! If this means do not do favors, or other things you are holding off on that is ok trust me. FInd other areas that no one will notice you have cut to get your new dress. Now secondly, do not apply to much energy into tracking down this extremely unprofessional person. I would document all of your actions and then after your wedding decide if it is worth your time to file a claim against here. BUT please do not do this in the time prior to your wedding. Its bad char ma so wait until after. Good Luck. Let me know how you make out I worry!!
Subject: Indian Wedding
Post: Dear David, My fiancee and I are medical students with a whole lot of loans. Although we attended top schools in the nation, we both are overburdened by loans from our undergraduate years and now our medical years. We even have loans for the food we buy and apartment we have. We are traditionally Indian, and we would really like to have a nice wedding. However, we keep delaying our wedding because of the lack of money. My fiancee is willing to put away her life-long visions of her wedding and settle for less. I understand her concerns for our future and our need to pay off these loans once we become practicing physicians, but all the same, it saddens me to see her give up her dreams and not even shop for a bridal gown because of this. Please help us out and save her dreams.
From: IndianElegance on December 9, 2008 2:24am
Congratulations on all the wonderful steps you are taking together in life. I understand your concerns and yes weddings are so special and often I hear that women are sad years down the road that they passed on that big special day for many reasons. I have done many Indian Weddings and they are filled with such passion and love and a bounty of color and texture. Perhaps you can do a fabulous cocktail style party. This meaning doing a party that is like a long cocktail party. Many food stations of Indian style food, henna stations, unique Indian music and make it a very celebratory atmosphere. This can actually be less money overall and wind up being more memorable to you and your guests and more fun to both plan and experience. So my overall feeling is look in a different direction in the style of your wedding to allow to you have it and not have to spend as much. Good Luck
Subject: Please help……Contacting David Tetura
Post: David i want to start off with saying i love your work an i am in desperate need of your assistance. My mother has taken over the wedding and she is driving me crazy…. she picked the dress that she wants ( it makes me look like a southern bell) she making me have it at her house, she chose the food and decor (which consists of hardly anything, but yet we are spending allot of money we are on a budget and she even chose the cake, and everything) i haven’t had one part in this wedding not even in my dress….. David i need your help my wedding is in Miami and its in jan. 4, 2009. i live in Athens , GA. now and on top of all else im planning this ( well my mom is ) from a state away with no help. Please help me this is supposed to be the day of my dreams.. so far its a dream alright but more like a nightmare.
From: karee23 on December 8, 2008 11:26am
Well you are in a difficult spot but its one I see every day. First you must sit down and have a to heard conversation with your Mom. Not defense one that allow you to share with her your feelings. So saying you don’t want her to help or plan will be hurtful so you need to approach it where you want to do this together. A saying I have in situations like this is that you have to “Pick your battles” meaning if you are upset about her selecting your dress and her picking out the cake well your battle should be you want to pick your dress and let her pick your cake. This is a big day too for her she is your mom so remember that. Its also I time for your mom to show off to her friends that you are getting married and often a time where she wants to show off her style of entertaining which more often then not is not the brides style at all. So you need to work as team players but striving for the same goal a great wedding and one that represents both of you. I suggest this talk happen ASAP so you feel better about it. Take her to lunch and make this about her and not about you.
Subject: Contacting David Tutera
Post: Hi! I would love to contact for his EXPERT advice. I’m getting married June 5, 2009. It is an evening wedding. Our colors are red, black, and ivory! We really don’t have a “theme” other than it’s formal and evening, we have a lot of candles, and our flowers are calla lilies and roses…. I’m sure you’ve seen it done before… I am the last of 5 sisters to get married… I want my wedding to be absolutely wonderful. We have selected our venue… I absolutely LOVE the show! And I have gotten so many neat ideas for my own wedding! David, you are brilliant, classy and edgy! You definitely found your calling… Can’t wait to see the next episode!
From: ashleymoore on December 8, 2008 11:06am
The last of five WOW. So my suggestion for you since you have mostly everything done is now find a way to make this wedding YOUR wedding. Change up the time line a bit, meaning try to make this wedding not feel like your four sisters weddings. Do your special dance at a different time. Have a different red specialty drink come out to guests every 30 minutes, name each one something special. Don’t have a sit down dessert open up a dessert lounge that is an all red lounge. Have fun with your wedding. Your guests I am sure are many that have been to the other four sisters celebrations, so think outside the box and have fun and be unique. Thanks for watching my show I have loved making each wedding a wedding that tells the story of them the bride and groom now go and try it for you too.
Subject: bridesmaid dresses
Post: i loveeeeeee one of the pink bridesmaid dresses on the episode with Jennifer. the dress was not picked but i would love to know where i could get a hold of it for my bridesmaid =) is there any way to help me? thanks. xoxo
From: mrs tee on December 8, 2008 1:15am
All the bridesmaid dresses for Jennifer’s wedding came from Kirstie Kelly for Disney Fairytale Weddings. She is the designer for the line and they are available all over the country.
Subject: Request your help
Post: Your show is wonderful. I enjoy watching how you transform weddings into extraordinary events. How does one go about getting you to transform a wedding. Our daughter is getting married soon and my husband and I want to know how we can get information on how to get you to do our daughter’s wedding. Please let us know what we need to do. Thank you for a great program. — Richard and Sun GreyBull
From: dakotasian on December 7, 2008 11:13pm
Thank you…….WOW how I love doing weddings. My entire staff loves to work on weddings so please feel free to email us at www.davidtutera.com there the office number is located to discuss my firm and myself to plan and design your daughters wedding. We do weddings all over the country.
Subject: Need some help…
Post: My name is Amanda, and I’m getting married January 10, 2009 yep, in a month! You know the bride who didn’t like her wedding dress? The one that ended up with her south-beach wedding? Well, thats like me. I’m not thrilled with my dress, I’m just hoping that it looks better than I feel in it. I guess if theres a someone out there who wants to help an insecure bride who just wants to finally feel like the day is all about her-to feel beautiful and important- I’m willing to do anything. At this point, I just hope everything looks fine. I guess I am just ready for it to be over with, as sad as that may be….
From: Mandaluv09 on December 7, 2008 10:08pm
OK so if I were with you right now I would tell you to snap out of it. YOU DO NOT WANT it to be over. I want you to make sure you are happy and enjoy ever single second of it. SO you dont like your dress. Find accessories to make you sparkle and shine. Custom jewelry is your new best friend. Fab earrings, necklace and bracelt then is a must!!!! Make yourself glitter and shine. You dont have time for a new dress but you do have time to make you smile and sparkle. So now when you say you want it to be over, remember all the single girls out there wishing they where you and walking down the aisle……so for me please smile and have the time of your life and do not let anything bother you.
