The voice on the other end of my phone was angry, to say the least.
It was a friend of a friend who had just gotten married. The person was distressed; he just couldn’t understand why his wedding photographer had provided him with a CD of low-resolution wedding photos (all of which, to his great annoyance, were water-marked with the photographer’s logo!). So of course, he couldn’t send any of his wedding photos via email to his friends and family. Furthermore, he was then informed that he had to choose photos from that CD, which could only be printed by the wedding photographer.
In essence, there are two problems here:
1) The photographer failing to communicate his/her terms and conditions to the couple prior to the wedding
2) The client not understanding or knowing about copyright laws
Let’s tackle the first issue - in an ideal world, all wedding vendors should communicate clearly to their clients about the type of services they will be receiving, the limitations of any products/services and the delivery time of same. In this instance, the couple thought they were going to get a CD full of images that would be ready to print and/or email out. Ideally, the photographer should have had the couple sign a contract which specifically indicated what type of items would be received.
Nowadays, many photographers who do digital photography will provide you with a CD of low-resolution images to choose from and then they will handle the printing of the photos for you. Some photographers can even provide you with log-in access to a special web page or digital gallery, where again, you can choose the number of photos you want, depending on the package you paid for.
Another option used by some photographers is to provide their clients with a CD of high-resolution (best digital quality) photographs at an additional cost. And other photographers have no problem giving you this type of high resolution CD as part of their package. So you see, photographers’ contract terms are not standard across the board. This is something that as a couple, you need to be aware of and ask about upfront, in order to prevent any awful surprises post-wedding!
The second issue is one about copyright and the most common question I get asked is:
“Why does the wedding photographer own the copyright for the wedding photos?”
The fact is that anyone who creates something using an artistic medium such as: painting, poetry, literature, drawing, photography, etc., owns the copyright of the work they created, since it is a combination of their ideas, training and skill that is put to use to create the artwork.
Normally, the fee you pay your photographer is for his/her time and skill and an initial set of prints. This fee does not give you any claim to copyright (unless this is expressly stated in the contract). The reason why you have to go through most photographers in order to get prints of your photos is because the photographer is the copyright owner and he/she controls who can copy his/her work.
Two other questions I often get asked are:
(1) “Can the copyright of my wedding photos be assigned to me?"
In some circles, this transfer of copyright is called a “buy-out.” A buy-out of the copyright on your wedding photos could perhaps be arranged if the photographer is willing to do this, however, it will cost you an additional fee. Many photographers, however, will only arrange a “buy-out” for commercial photography and not wedding photography.
(2) "Who owns the publishing rights of my wedding photos?"
It is important to understand that although the photographer owns the copyright to the photos, he/she does not have publishing rights, unless you have signed a “model release” clause, which can give him/her the right to display your image on his/her brochure, website, portfolio or other type of promotional material.
Return to: http://www.trinidadweddings.com
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
What My Dress Taught Me About the Art of Improvisation
A few months ago, on a recent trip, I discovered I had accidentally only packed one dress instead of two. So for dinner at the hotel, on the second night, I was in a bit of a quandary as to what to wear, since I’d worn the one and only dress the night before!
Clearly, capris, shorts and tank tops (that was what was left in my suitcase) wouldn’t be in order amongst dinner guests dressed in their night-time “resort best.” It’s true that “necessity is the mother of invention” and I had to think fast; so I tucked in the straps of my existing knit jersey dress to form a strapless dress, I took the sash from the dress that was supposed to be tied to the side and tied it to the back instead and lastly, I took a flower pin I had brought and clipped it to the front of the dress to create a “ruched” effect.
Same dress, different style.
The same thing happens sometimes at weddings, when things don’t work out as they should, perhaps because of budgetary constraints, vendors or volunteers not meeting expectations or just with an unexpected chain of events; we are often forced to improvise using something or someone else!
For example, one bride I know, substituted children’s beaded bangles as napkin holders for her wedding, when she discovered the cost for napkin rings were too high! Another bride who went with a “Moroccan” theme for her wedding bought “old-fashioned” beaded curtains and then clipped them in order to use the individual strings of beads as ornamentation in her décor and on her wedding favours.
Similarly, when it comes to catering, if the idea of a dessert buffet seems out of your reach; improvise by choosing one type of dessert, for example, having a “cookie bar” or a “fruit bar.” This would be an affordable option for dessert paired with an offering of ice-cream, trifle, caramel custard or sorbet. It would certainly be unusual and something guests would surely remember, versus the standard “slice of cheesecake on a plate” type of wedding dessert.
Or if you’re thinking of having a cupcake tower, yet you don’t want to rent a cupcake stand, why not turn terracotta pots upside down, place painted, wooden plywood circles on top of them until you have the desired effect?
Another way to improvise is to “think outside the vase” when it comes to your centrepiece. There’s no requirement that says you have to stick with traditional glass vases and receptacles for your blooms. Why not recycle large cans for a rustic, outdoorsy type of reception? Or you can even use cappuccino cups, watering cans, tea pots, cake pedestals, pitchers, serving bowls and even unused lamp bases.
Improvising doesn’t mean that you have to go it alone! One other idea is to utilise your pool of resources. Friends and family are generally all too wiling to participate in wedding preparations but many just don’t know how to approach you about it or even how they can contribute. What you can do is to draw up a list in say, 4 categories:
1. Friends or relatives who are good for unusual ideas,
2. Those who don’t mind running an errand or two for you
3. Those who are good for “free labour!” such as: helping with valet parking, cooking and ushering and;
4. Those who are good for projects that require craftwork: such as packaging wedding favours, assembling boxes and gift-wrapping.
This way, you can keep your wedding budget down, involve your loved ones and remain somewhat stress-free! Improvising doesn’t necessarily mean having to cut costs though. Many couples improvise simply because they have a hankering to be different and unique, so feel free to improvise, trust me, you’ll be remembered as one original bride and groom!
Clearly, capris, shorts and tank tops (that was what was left in my suitcase) wouldn’t be in order amongst dinner guests dressed in their night-time “resort best.” It’s true that “necessity is the mother of invention” and I had to think fast; so I tucked in the straps of my existing knit jersey dress to form a strapless dress, I took the sash from the dress that was supposed to be tied to the side and tied it to the back instead and lastly, I took a flower pin I had brought and clipped it to the front of the dress to create a “ruched” effect.
Same dress, different style.
The same thing happens sometimes at weddings, when things don’t work out as they should, perhaps because of budgetary constraints, vendors or volunteers not meeting expectations or just with an unexpected chain of events; we are often forced to improvise using something or someone else!
For example, one bride I know, substituted children’s beaded bangles as napkin holders for her wedding, when she discovered the cost for napkin rings were too high! Another bride who went with a “Moroccan” theme for her wedding bought “old-fashioned” beaded curtains and then clipped them in order to use the individual strings of beads as ornamentation in her décor and on her wedding favours.
Similarly, when it comes to catering, if the idea of a dessert buffet seems out of your reach; improvise by choosing one type of dessert, for example, having a “cookie bar” or a “fruit bar.” This would be an affordable option for dessert paired with an offering of ice-cream, trifle, caramel custard or sorbet. It would certainly be unusual and something guests would surely remember, versus the standard “slice of cheesecake on a plate” type of wedding dessert.
Or if you’re thinking of having a cupcake tower, yet you don’t want to rent a cupcake stand, why not turn terracotta pots upside down, place painted, wooden plywood circles on top of them until you have the desired effect?
Another way to improvise is to “think outside the vase” when it comes to your centrepiece. There’s no requirement that says you have to stick with traditional glass vases and receptacles for your blooms. Why not recycle large cans for a rustic, outdoorsy type of reception? Or you can even use cappuccino cups, watering cans, tea pots, cake pedestals, pitchers, serving bowls and even unused lamp bases.
Improvising doesn’t mean that you have to go it alone! One other idea is to utilise your pool of resources. Friends and family are generally all too wiling to participate in wedding preparations but many just don’t know how to approach you about it or even how they can contribute. What you can do is to draw up a list in say, 4 categories:
1. Friends or relatives who are good for unusual ideas,
2. Those who don’t mind running an errand or two for you
3. Those who are good for “free labour!” such as: helping with valet parking, cooking and ushering and;
4. Those who are good for projects that require craftwork: such as packaging wedding favours, assembling boxes and gift-wrapping.
This way, you can keep your wedding budget down, involve your loved ones and remain somewhat stress-free! Improvising doesn’t necessarily mean having to cut costs though. Many couples improvise simply because they have a hankering to be different and unique, so feel free to improvise, trust me, you’ll be remembered as one original bride and groom!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
What's Your Red-Tassled Cushion?
While waiting in the ticket line on my last visit to the movie theatre, to see the latest Star Trek movie, I observed something that I thought was curious. A woman in the ticket line clutched a big, square-shaped fabric cushion (complete with red tassels, mind you), obviously to make herself more comfortable in the movie theatre’s seat!
I thought, “Good for her! She’s really going to enjoy her movie experience by making herself feel ‘at home.’ ”
It struck me how much the same this is for wedding guests, who’d love nothing better than to feel comfortable at weddings, and at any type of event for that matter!
I clearly remember a wedding I attended where I felt the most comfortable. It was the wedding of one of my husband's best friends R., a Trini by birth but he lived in Canada. He came to Trinidad to wed B., his sweetheart, who was originally from Romania but who also lived in Canada. My husband was the best man at this wedding, so I was fully prepared to "go it alone" for most of the day since he would be whisked off for photo shoots, transportation duties and the like.
However, it was because of the rehearsal dinner that I felt right "at home," - meeting the groom's family, multitude of cousins and Canadian work colleagues, all amidst a great feast of Indian food, local home-made wines ( pomerac, pineapple, sorrel and more) and a lively tassa group. What a lime!
And so, on the day of the wedding itself, when I thought I would have felt all alone, I felt totally surrounded by friendly folks ( and an awesome parang band!) I had met at the rehearsal. That wedding turned out to be one of the best I'd ever attended!
Your wedding does not have to be big-budget for your guests to feel this way (although, certainly, a larger budget will help with additional amenities). You may just have to address some basic concerns and you’re sure to have rave reviews afterwards. Here are some:
Heat and humidity
In our climate, if the heat doesn’t irk guests, you can be sure the humidity will! Female guests particularly dislike heat and humidity because it affects their make-up and hair and their general comfort, of course. Children also tend to be more irritable if it’s hot as well. If your venue is not air-conditioned, be sure that there is ample ventilation. You can can even rent portable air-conditioning.
Restroom facilities
This is a critical area, since on average, most guests make at least one trip to the rest-room during a wedding. Female guests may make more trips due to make-up touch-ups and to take small children to the washroom, etc.Washrooms should be clean and well stocked with bathroom tissue, hand-dryers (if available) and soap. It is a good idea to appoint someone to do periodic checks on the washroom, just to ensure that it is being well maintained throughout the course of your wedding. A nice touch may be to add a floral arrangement on the bathroom counter, some potpourri or other air freshener and to have a small basket of trial-sized hand lotions and hand sanitisers.
Bugs
Flies, ants, mosquitoes and sand flies get on food, they bite or they buzz around and are irritating for guests. Try to spray the area well before the guests arrive and perhaps place some citronella candles or torches around the perimeter of your ceremony and/or reception area.
Hunger
Guests often sit through a wedding ceremony as well as a reception, replete with speeches. By the end of that programme, they are understandably quite hungry. Try to precede your reception programme (if it will be long) with a welcome drink and perhaps some hors d’oeuvres. If hors d’oeuvres are out of your budget, some nibbles on the table such as “party mix” or mixed nuts may suffice for guests who are peckish.
Seating
Somebody I know went to a wedding and then told me it was the worst she’d ever attended. When I enquired some more about it, she said she never got a seat and had to stand for all of the speech-making. This type of situation can be circumvented if ushers are present to escort guests to their seats, or if you have a wedding co-ordinator who can keep on the look-out for instances like these and quickly remedy them.
Communication
Guests like information and updates. Naturally, they want to know where to park, where to sit, where the washrooms are, where the emergency exits are, where to put their gifts, and most importantly, when the couple will arrive at the reception. Those are all key points that the master of ceremonies should address throughout the course of the event.
I thought, “Good for her! She’s really going to enjoy her movie experience by making herself feel ‘at home.’ ”
It struck me how much the same this is for wedding guests, who’d love nothing better than to feel comfortable at weddings, and at any type of event for that matter!
I clearly remember a wedding I attended where I felt the most comfortable. It was the wedding of one of my husband's best friends R., a Trini by birth but he lived in Canada. He came to Trinidad to wed B., his sweetheart, who was originally from Romania but who also lived in Canada. My husband was the best man at this wedding, so I was fully prepared to "go it alone" for most of the day since he would be whisked off for photo shoots, transportation duties and the like.
However, it was because of the rehearsal dinner that I felt right "at home," - meeting the groom's family, multitude of cousins and Canadian work colleagues, all amidst a great feast of Indian food, local home-made wines ( pomerac, pineapple, sorrel and more) and a lively tassa group. What a lime!
And so, on the day of the wedding itself, when I thought I would have felt all alone, I felt totally surrounded by friendly folks ( and an awesome parang band!) I had met at the rehearsal. That wedding turned out to be one of the best I'd ever attended!
Your wedding does not have to be big-budget for your guests to feel this way (although, certainly, a larger budget will help with additional amenities). You may just have to address some basic concerns and you’re sure to have rave reviews afterwards. Here are some:
Heat and humidity
In our climate, if the heat doesn’t irk guests, you can be sure the humidity will! Female guests particularly dislike heat and humidity because it affects their make-up and hair and their general comfort, of course. Children also tend to be more irritable if it’s hot as well. If your venue is not air-conditioned, be sure that there is ample ventilation. You can can even rent portable air-conditioning.
Restroom facilities
This is a critical area, since on average, most guests make at least one trip to the rest-room during a wedding. Female guests may make more trips due to make-up touch-ups and to take small children to the washroom, etc.Washrooms should be clean and well stocked with bathroom tissue, hand-dryers (if available) and soap. It is a good idea to appoint someone to do periodic checks on the washroom, just to ensure that it is being well maintained throughout the course of your wedding. A nice touch may be to add a floral arrangement on the bathroom counter, some potpourri or other air freshener and to have a small basket of trial-sized hand lotions and hand sanitisers.
Bugs
Flies, ants, mosquitoes and sand flies get on food, they bite or they buzz around and are irritating for guests. Try to spray the area well before the guests arrive and perhaps place some citronella candles or torches around the perimeter of your ceremony and/or reception area.
Hunger
Guests often sit through a wedding ceremony as well as a reception, replete with speeches. By the end of that programme, they are understandably quite hungry. Try to precede your reception programme (if it will be long) with a welcome drink and perhaps some hors d’oeuvres. If hors d’oeuvres are out of your budget, some nibbles on the table such as “party mix” or mixed nuts may suffice for guests who are peckish.
Seating
Somebody I know went to a wedding and then told me it was the worst she’d ever attended. When I enquired some more about it, she said she never got a seat and had to stand for all of the speech-making. This type of situation can be circumvented if ushers are present to escort guests to their seats, or if you have a wedding co-ordinator who can keep on the look-out for instances like these and quickly remedy them.
Communication
Guests like information and updates. Naturally, they want to know where to park, where to sit, where the washrooms are, where the emergency exits are, where to put their gifts, and most importantly, when the couple will arrive at the reception. Those are all key points that the master of ceremonies should address throughout the course of the event.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Fizzle or Flourish? It's up to you.
Why female friendships flourish or fizzle has been an age-old debate.
I think women feel a lot of guilt …well about everything…but also about letting friendships go. However, sometimes certain friendships we have can somehow go out of sync or in a worse case scenario, can become quite toxic.
Friends don’t necessarily fit into every mould you want. Every friendship is unique, this is why I think it’s really difficult to compare friendships among your friends; simply because each friend nurtures you in a different way and you gain different perspectives from being around each one of them.
Certain friends are better for quiet home “limes,” other friends are better for partying and laughing out loud with and yet others are just good listeners who won’t judge you or your secrets. Some friends you talk to once a week for 10 minutes and some friends you talk to every two months for 2 hours! That’s how it is.
I think the Greek philosopher Aristotle nailed it on the head when he said: “It is those who desire the good of their friends for their friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves each other for what he(she) is, and not for any incidental quality."
When it comes to wedding planning, I’ve heard a plethora of stories – both the good and the bad, about how friendships have been deepened or renewed and on the flip-side, how some have turned into soap-opera inspired dramatics, like the ones where brides have become “bridezillas” or where bridesmaids, cousins or friends have transformed into "evil stepsisters."
What might be the case in the latter scenario is that some single friends or relatives may feel a sense of loss, abandonment, jealousy or yearning for what the bride-to-be is about to experience. Often, this translates itself into the friend becoming distant, argumentative, uncooperative or just plain unavailable.
Other single friends can’t be more overjoyed for their soon-to-be wedded friend and eagerly open their diaries and their hearts to helping with all and sundry that’s wedding-related (oh…and especially the bachelorette party! grin)
Here are just some of the types of friends you want to be around during your planning and of course, as part of your life even after you’re married ( too many women forget female friendships after marriage, but I’ll save that topic for another blog!)
The Voice of Reason
You know her by the steady, measured tone of her voice. She weighs all the information carefully before providing her sage advice or constructive criticism. She only gives it, if she’s asked, since of course, she’s the ultimate diplomat. Her life is well-balanced and most likely she’s also very intellectual. She can be the “touchstone” that you can rely on during the whole wedding planning scenario.
The Breath-of-Fresh-Air Friend
She’s a risk-taker and always up for something adventurous. You admire her joie de vivre and wish you could throw caution to the wind like her. She’s exactly the type of gal who would encourage you to wear a red wedding dress, well...just because! Her optimism and verve for life is contagious and if you want some innovative or unconventional ideas for your wedding, this is the girl you can turn to.
The Nurturer
She is the quiet “background person” who helps you meticulously organise everything you need for your wedding day. She pre-empts the little details that either you’d overlook or forget. She is a champion for your cause and definitely somebody you want in your corner. It’s her soft shoulders you can cry on or the girl you can call at 2am in the morning with your problem and she won’t mind at all.
The Party Princess
This friend is always game for a “lime” She knows everybody and everybody knows her. She’s the type of mover and shaker that everyone wants to be around. She uses her effervescence and energy to pluck you out of your rotten mood, take you shopping for some new, sexy pumps and whisk you away for a night of clubbing, dancing or a cocktail so you can get your mind off any wedding stressors.
It may seem to strange to say that one of the keys to a long-lasting friendship is just the same as one of the keys to a happy marriage: communication. It makes no sense being a “bottler” and carefully corking away your resentment over what your friend has or hasn’t done or said. It’s essential to talk to your friend about what’s bothering you, that is, if you really have a stake in keeping your friendship going.
My take on friendship is that I liken it to a woman’s fashion sense. Over time, you get to realise exactly what suits you and the more this refinement comes, then comes the necessity to get rid of clothes (…or friends) that may not be working for you at that particular phase of your life.
In the end, only you can trust your instincts about your genuine friends, those who love and care for you ...no matter what.
I think women feel a lot of guilt …well about everything…but also about letting friendships go. However, sometimes certain friendships we have can somehow go out of sync or in a worse case scenario, can become quite toxic.
Friends don’t necessarily fit into every mould you want. Every friendship is unique, this is why I think it’s really difficult to compare friendships among your friends; simply because each friend nurtures you in a different way and you gain different perspectives from being around each one of them.
Certain friends are better for quiet home “limes,” other friends are better for partying and laughing out loud with and yet others are just good listeners who won’t judge you or your secrets. Some friends you talk to once a week for 10 minutes and some friends you talk to every two months for 2 hours! That’s how it is.
I think the Greek philosopher Aristotle nailed it on the head when he said: “It is those who desire the good of their friends for their friends' sake that are most truly friends, because each loves each other for what he(she) is, and not for any incidental quality."
When it comes to wedding planning, I’ve heard a plethora of stories – both the good and the bad, about how friendships have been deepened or renewed and on the flip-side, how some have turned into soap-opera inspired dramatics, like the ones where brides have become “bridezillas” or where bridesmaids, cousins or friends have transformed into "evil stepsisters."
What might be the case in the latter scenario is that some single friends or relatives may feel a sense of loss, abandonment, jealousy or yearning for what the bride-to-be is about to experience. Often, this translates itself into the friend becoming distant, argumentative, uncooperative or just plain unavailable.
Other single friends can’t be more overjoyed for their soon-to-be wedded friend and eagerly open their diaries and their hearts to helping with all and sundry that’s wedding-related (oh…and especially the bachelorette party! grin)
Here are just some of the types of friends you want to be around during your planning and of course, as part of your life even after you’re married ( too many women forget female friendships after marriage, but I’ll save that topic for another blog!)
The Voice of Reason
You know her by the steady, measured tone of her voice. She weighs all the information carefully before providing her sage advice or constructive criticism. She only gives it, if she’s asked, since of course, she’s the ultimate diplomat. Her life is well-balanced and most likely she’s also very intellectual. She can be the “touchstone” that you can rely on during the whole wedding planning scenario.
The Breath-of-Fresh-Air Friend
She’s a risk-taker and always up for something adventurous. You admire her joie de vivre and wish you could throw caution to the wind like her. She’s exactly the type of gal who would encourage you to wear a red wedding dress, well...just because! Her optimism and verve for life is contagious and if you want some innovative or unconventional ideas for your wedding, this is the girl you can turn to.
The Nurturer
She is the quiet “background person” who helps you meticulously organise everything you need for your wedding day. She pre-empts the little details that either you’d overlook or forget. She is a champion for your cause and definitely somebody you want in your corner. It’s her soft shoulders you can cry on or the girl you can call at 2am in the morning with your problem and she won’t mind at all.
The Party Princess
This friend is always game for a “lime” She knows everybody and everybody knows her. She’s the type of mover and shaker that everyone wants to be around. She uses her effervescence and energy to pluck you out of your rotten mood, take you shopping for some new, sexy pumps and whisk you away for a night of clubbing, dancing or a cocktail so you can get your mind off any wedding stressors.
It may seem to strange to say that one of the keys to a long-lasting friendship is just the same as one of the keys to a happy marriage: communication. It makes no sense being a “bottler” and carefully corking away your resentment over what your friend has or hasn’t done or said. It’s essential to talk to your friend about what’s bothering you, that is, if you really have a stake in keeping your friendship going.
My take on friendship is that I liken it to a woman’s fashion sense. Over time, you get to realise exactly what suits you and the more this refinement comes, then comes the necessity to get rid of clothes (…or friends) that may not be working for you at that particular phase of your life.
In the end, only you can trust your instincts about your genuine friends, those who love and care for you ...no matter what.
Monday, March 9, 2009
The Caribbean Bridal Expo, Destination: Puerto Rico!
I’ve just returned from an awesome experience at the Caribbean Bridal Expo in Puerto Rico; a dizzying display of 300 exhibits, fashion shows packed with the latest in bridal and formal wear and oodles of product sampling. But the scale and magnitude of the show is not surprising, considering that weddings in Puerto Rico are a huge affair, and culturally, one of the most auspicious events there, along with Christmas time celebrations and the “sweet fifteen” parties called the “quinceaňeros.”
In Puerto Rico, it’s pretty normal for parents to spend as much as USD$10,000 or more, on their teenager’s “sweet fifteen” party! Gulp, can you imagine this kid’s wedding, ten or so years down the road?
Anyway, apart from browsing the booths and meeting scores of interesting people who are part of the Puerto Rican wedding industry, the highlight of my trip was undoubtedly having the opportunity to meet and interview, Leonardo Suria, owner of the Leonardo Men’s fashion emporium. Leonardo is somewhat of the “Godfather of the Puerto Rican bridal industry.” So it came as no surprise that his chain of high-end stores, “Leonardo’s” had the largest display at the Expo and was also one of the Expo’s major sponsors. You can see some of my amateur ( I stress this!) video footage on the TW Video bar to the top right of this page.
In fact, as my new acquaintance Carmen told me, (she looks like a petite version of Cher and she’s believe it or not, an attorney-turned-decorator!) Leonardo was the one who first brought the idea of bridal expos to Puerto Rico, twelve years ago. She went on to say that he's a multi-millionaire and despite that, he was such a humble and nice person. And true to form, just as Carmen had said, Leonardo was indeed not only affable but also debonair and impeccably dressed. He seemed as though he’d fit comfortably into a spread for Men’s Vogue magazine! We easily chatted about the wedding industry in Trinidad and Tobago and about groom’s fashion trends for 2009; such as the return of the “ascot tie” and colour-combination suits ( e.g. white/ivory jacket with black trouser and vice versa).
There were also fashion shows starring stunning gowns and evening wear by David’s Bridal, gorgeous gowns by Kation and my absolute favourite - Stella Nolasco, Puerto Rico’s most avante-garde fashion designer, whose line has been featured in the exclusive Neiman Marcus store. Her pieces have been worn by celebrities such as: Beyonce and Dayanara Torres. I visited her boutique when I was in Old San Juan, but sadly, it was closed on the day I was there. Oh well, there’s always next time!
See some of the show's high fashion here: http://s234.photobucket.com/albums/ee16/simoneweddings/
During the expo, I was plied with all sorts of beverages from the exhibitors ( not that I was complaining!): wine from Chile, sangria offered up by the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel and “coquito” a milky drink, quite similar to our “ponche de crème.” Sangria and coquito are usually the cocktails of choice at Puerto Rican weddings.
During the expo, I was plied with all sorts of beverages from the exhibitors ( not that I was complaining!): wine from Chile, sangria offered up by the Sheraton Old San Juan Hotel and “coquito” a milky drink, quite similar to our “ponche de crème.” Sangria and coquito are usually the cocktails of choice at Puerto Rican weddings.
For wedding favours, many Puerto Rican couples are going the route of edible favours – the traditional favourites are “merenguitos” or small meringues which can be plain or drizzled with chocolate. Other edible delights which are popular right now are chocolate truffles, decorated Jordan almonds, chocolate lollipops, brownie lollipops, marshmallow lollipops (e.g. 3 marshmallows on a skewer covered entirely in white or milk chocolate) and miniature wedding cakes
At the Expo, I also interviewed one of Puerto Rico’s finest musicians, the renowned Qique Talavera, whose 14-piece orchestra has backed up legends such as the Supremes and the Temptations ( it costs USD$5000 to hire them for a wedding!). Go figure that the last wedding his band played at, was at the Ritz Carlton in San Juan! After talking to Qique, I then met the leader of a band called “Batukealo.” This band plays the popular Plena music of Puerto Rico as well as Brazilian Batucada music.
I’d never heard Plena before and was intrigued; luckily the band leader told me I’d get an opportunity to hear them at the close of the show. And I wasn’t disappointed, Plena music is infectious and frenetic, similar to our tassa and rhythm sections! The musicians use scrape gourds and hand drums that resemble tambourines just without the cymbals. You can check out some footage on the TW Video Bar to the top right of this page ( scroll up to view!)
And at 7pm, as the expo crowd all sang, clapped and danced with the band Batukealo, the curtain came down on the Caribbean’s biggest bridal extravaganza…
But, when I wasn’t at the Expo, I spent my time sight-seeing, shopping and eating ( the stuff great vacations are made of, right?). I took a trolley bus tour of Old San Juan, where we stopped at two ancient forts, El Morro and the Castillo de San Cristobal, at Plaza de Armas (a square where people can feed huge flocks of pigeons and take photos against the backdrop of a lovely fountain) and a few other historical spots.
After the bus tour, I hopped out and enjoyed strolling along the cobble-stoned streets of Old San Juan, where posh boutiques like Burberry and Ralph Lauren are sandwiched amongst quaint little shops like “Boveda” (a groovy, treasure trove of ethically-inspired and mostly eco-chic clothing and jewellery) and “Mi Pequeno San Juan,” a shop owned by a local poet and her husband, who is a French painter. This shop produces painted terracotta replicas of prominent buildings in Old San Juan and the detail of the artists’ work there is just stunning.
I also made a pit stop at Galeria Botello, an art gallery housed in a 300 year old building. It was a cool sanctuary in the heated city, dotted inside with huge sculptures and fine art. Last but not least, I went into the Catedral de San Juan, a serene, white structure, which is actually the second oldest cathedral in the Western Hemisphere.
On other mornings, I took the bus and went adventuring (the Puerto Rican bus system gets crazier to figure out every time I go there! So beware, if you try it) and I took walks up the blocks that surrounded my hotel, all the while loving the salsa music that wafted from the windows of some of the condominiums.
And before, I knew it, it was time to come home. A two hour and ten minute plane ride later, I was back on Trini soil, relaying the happy moments I’d had in Puerto Rico to my husband, as he drove us home.
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Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Ten Commandments of Guests
They say that kids say the darnest things, whoever said that clearly never met some wedding guests! Some guests as I’ve come to realise, tend to ask the darnest things (“How much you pay for your wedding?” or “You lose weight or what?” or “All dat make up you have on?”). Enough to make you say “mind your own beeswax” (okay, that’s the polite version, only because the expletive version can’t be here on this blog!)
Anyway, there are guests who will show up at your wedding and never bring a gift. There are even guests who will bad-talk your wedding IN your own wedding!
Don’t get me wrong, this is not to detract from the many lovely guests that do attend weddings – the helpful ones, the supportive ones, the ones who stay till the party has ended ( and not just for the drinks but to lime with you), the ones who shed a tear in the church/temple/mosque for your happiness. We love those types of guests! But let’s get real, they are few and far between and usually they are our best friends and close family members.
And just as how kids don’t come with manuals, guests don’t have manuals either when it comes to attending weddings, which is why it may be wise to compile something like the 10 Commandments For Guests ( feel free to come up with your own - 'cos every guest list is different!), here goes:
- Thou shalt RSVP by the deadline
- Thou shalt not covet the couple’s centrepiece and thou shalt not take it, unless the host giveth to you
- Thou shalt be considerate of other guests and keep bodily functions in check at the table – no snorting, nose-picking, finger-licking, ear digging, body odour (and odours of any other sort) please.
- Thou shalt rise when the bride enters the room – always.
- Thou shalt not get drunk and disorderly at a wedding, neither shalt thou eat like a glutton or save the hors d’oeuvres for later…in your purse.
- Thou shalt dress appropriately and if thou art a female guest thou should avoid at all costs: showing off excessive cleavage and other things that may lead to wardrobe malfunctions. Thou shalt also avoid inappropriate undergarments or worse, wearing no undergarments at all.
- Thou shalt have no excuse for not bringing a wedding gift for the couple ( unless they don't want one)
- Thou shalt not bring along your granny ‘cos she's sick, your friend from "dong" the road, your cousin’s cousin visiting from Queens or your brother’s child who you are babysitting, to the wedding; without first having an invitation for them, from the couple.
- Thou shalt save the “flag man or flag woman wine” for Carnival and not for the wedding
- Thou shalt not comment about the flowers, food, the dress, the décor, the groom, the cake or anything else at the wedding, unless it is complimentary. Thou shalt remember that it is not your wedding and that everything will not be your taste.
If even one guest can change some type of bad behaviour into a good one, it will be one small step for humanity but one huge step for guests! Don't you think?
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