2008 Hope Ball

Dinner in the President's Ballroom at the 2008 Hope Ball

This past weekend we were delighted to have the chance to help out at the 2008 Hope Ball put on by the Cancer Society of Greenville County. This is the primary fundraiser for the Cancer Society of Greenville. This year’s ball was their thirteenth and took place at the Poinsett Club.

Our job was to help organize the photography that was done both before and during the event by Photography by Dennis & Yvette. We helped Dennis and Yvette take well over 100 portraits of couples attending the Donor’s Pre-Reception and a huge amount of pictures during the actual ball.

The décor was amazing as you can see by the picture. The bar area was set up as a white and purple lounge, with huge arrangements and white ottomans piled high with purple pillows. The band, Anita, out of Atlanta, was excellent and had everyone on the dance floor after a wonderful dinner.

Perfect setup for a lounge area during a wedding cocktail hour

It was quite an event and I was glad Willrich Bridal and Special Events got the opportunity to help out.

Bonus Grandmomma - The New Step

Some of you may have noticed that I didn’t post last week. Well the reason was that Richard’s daughter had a baby and we went to Texas. The baby had some health problems and was NICU for a few days but everything is fine now and she's home.

As you can see from the picture she is soooooo beautiful. I’m a proud step-grandmomma or as a friend told me, they don’t call it step any more, its bonus. So I’m a very proud bonus grandmomma.

Four Magic Words to Ease Your Wedding Stress

I am going to tell you four magic words that will help ease your life as a bride. Ever wonder what to say to those rude people that ask, “Wow, how much is this wedding costing?” or “who did you say is doing your flowers” (from your friend who is planning her own wedding), or “are you inviting Cousin Fred?” or any other rude question you don’t want to answer. I’m going to give you the perfect response to these questions. Turn, face the offender and respond with a smile, “Why do you ask?”. Then just sit back, relax and watch the offender turn red and stammer. If they are so dense, that they still don’t get that they are being rude, it will at least give you an extra moment to formulate an answer.

Can Saying Congratulations Be Bad Luck?

Did you know that traditional etiquette states you never tell a bride “congratulations”? Some people even consider it very unlucky to congratulate the bride. Only the groom is to be congratulated. You offer your “best wishes” to the bride.

Ever wonder why? In Victorian times etiquette rules proclaimed that congratulating the bride would be the same as stating that she had somehow “won” this groom or “trapped” him into marrying her. That she was lucky that the groom chose her. In other words she was not the prize, he was. This would have been terribly offending to the Victorian bride. Since the groom was always seen as the lucky one, congratulations were only appropriate when addressing him. The bride would receive your best wishes.

Like many wedding traditions, the rule passed down through generations is still followed today, even though most people don’t know the reason why.

The Bridesmaid's Luncheon

The perfect bridesmaid's luncheon set up as seen in Bride and Bloom Magazine.

Now let’s talk about one last party,the bridesmaid’s luncheon. First off, no the bridesmaid’s luncheon and the bachelorette party are not the same thing at all. While bachelorette parties have little traditional rules or in this day and age decorum attached to them, the bridesmaid’s luncheon, on the other hand, is steeped in both.

The luncheon (or it can be a tea) is traditionally hosted by the bridesmaids or the bride and her mother. It will normally take place very close to the wedding, usually the day before or day of the wedding, since this is when all the bridesmaids will be available. If because of work schedules a daytime event is not convenient it can be held after work as a cocktail event, dinner or maybe a spa day on the weekend.

The luncheon is a time for the bride to share with her girls and express her appreciation for all their help and support. Bridesmaid gifts and notes of appreciation can be given at this .

Attendees of these parties are your bridesmaids, of course, other female relatives and close friends.