You’re finally married, the honeymoon was wonderful, and now your finally back home as newlyweds! This means it’s time to do the not-so-fun stuff, like changing your last name. Don’t let it get you down though (and don’t put it off!) because it doesn’t have to be a hassle. Get your paperwork together in advance, and follow these tips, so that changing it after the wedding is a breeze.
Marriage License
You’re going to need this as proof that you actually got married, so make sure you crossed your T’s and dotted your I’s and have the official copy you need.
Social Security Card
This is the first place you should start. You’ll need to fill out the appropriate form with the Social Security office, and make sure that you have your current card and birth certificate with you when you apply.
Driver’s License and Passport
Now that you’ve got your social security card taken care of, it’s time to go to the dreaded DMV and change that license. This is a great time to update that address too if you’ve moved in with you new sweetheart. You should be able to get the application for the passport change online. Make sure you take the marriage license in for these!
Employers, Insurance, and Banks
You’ve taken care of the identification items, so now make sure you update your banking information, credit cards, insurance, and any W-2 information with your employer. You’ll want to get these done as soon as possible, so that there aren’t any issues with your money spending or when tax time rolls around.
Everything Else
Sure, the official stuff is done, but don’t forget everything else! Newsletters, store rewards cards, memberships and subscriptions, and social media are just a few of the places you may want to update that last name!
Congratulations! You’re officially a Mrs.!
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
Getting engaged is such an exciting moment, and it’s easy to want to jump right in to all things weddings. One of your first tasks on your checklist will inevitably be finding your venue! It’s easy to find a venue you love the look of but make sure that you’re considering everything when it comes to your wedding day location. Here are a few factors that you should take note of when you head to those venue tours!
Location
Is the venue located somewhere that your guests can actually get to? If you’re doing the ceremony and reception in separate venues, how far apart are they (and will your guests travel that far)? If it’s in a busy city location, will you have to cover guests’ parking or adjust your timeline due to 5:00 traffic? If it’s in a rural area, will guests be able to get a ride after a night of partying or be able to get back to their hotel in a reasonable amount of time? There are a lot of questions that come with location, so it’s important to make that the #1 factor when you’re looking around.
Availability
Have you always dreamed of an October wedding? Then you may want to make sure that venue has an October date available. Venues book up extremely fast, and book pretty far out. It’s easy to have to change your mind on a date because you can’t find a venue. You’ll also want to make note of blackout dates. If you always pictured a New Year’s Eve soirée but a venue doesn’t go for that sort of thing, then it probably isn’t a good fit for your special day.
Capacity
It’s simple math. You can’t fit 250 guests into a room built for 100. Make sure you ask about the capacity of the space, specifically for a seated reception if you plan on having dinner. Numbers for capacity will vary depending on if you’re using the space for a ceremony, cocktail hour, or reception, so make sure that you’re picking a space that’s suited to that guest list you already sent Save-the-Dates to.
Style
Is it what you had in mind? If you want a lavish, formal affair, then are you choosing a venue that will “wow” your guests – or if you want a casual party, are you looking at something that will make your guests feel like they should have worn a suit and tie? You need to pick a venue that reflects that style of the event you’re planning, and the style of you as a couple. Your venue will say the most about your wedding, and will be the checklist item that sets the tone for everything else.
Cost
By now you should have an idea of what you can afford to pay for your big day, so does this venue fit your costs? Is it in the budget you set or does it take away your whole budget (and more)? As easy as it is to fall in love with a venue solely based on its looks, your going to want to spend some money on other things too, so make sure that you have that money to spend.
Vendors
If you’re looking at a venue that requires a certain caterer, but you already booked a caterer you’re in love with who isn’t on the list, then you have a problem on your hands. Don’t put yourself in the awkward position of trying to explain the mishap to the caterer or trying to beg the venue to let you use them. Ask about preferred/required vendors at your tour so that you have an idea of what (or who) is allowed and what isn’t.
Hope this helps! Choosing your venue is the first big step to the planning process and there’s a lot to choose from. Keep these factors in mind, and you’ll definitely find something perfect for your special day!
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
One thing that doesn’t get talked about enough in wedding planning is wedding insurance. Don’t think it’s a necessity? Not sure exactly what wedding insurance is? We’re going to chat about a few quick tips on why your wedding needs insurance.
There are typically two types of wedding insurance: Cancellation insurance and Liability insurance.
Cancellation insurance covers you in the event of circumstances out of your control. If a hurricane rolls in or your venue floods, if there’s a fire or one of your vendors declare bankruptcy, you’re protected with this insurance. Depending on your policy, it can even cover lost wedding rings, damage to your wedding gown, gifts, or even lost photographs. Most companies recommend coverage based on your wedding budget, but you typically can choose the amount of coverage you prefer.
Liability insurance (which some venues even require) covers you in the event that there’s property damage to the venue during your wedding or even if someone gets injured.
Insurance agents will be the most knowledgeable source for a discussion about policies, but from a planner’s perspective, it is highly recommended! Here are a few wedding insurance companies worth noting: Wedsafe, Wedding Protector Plan, Progressive, and Markel Insurance.
Mimi Ebichi – Expert Multicultural Wedding Planner in DC Areas
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
There are so many things that go into a wedding, but planning doesn’t have to be stressful. Here are a few lesser known tips that should ease your planning process!
Tip #1:
Instead of starting to scout venues, the first thing on your checklist should be your guest list. This may seem like something you can start to do slowly, but your guest count is going to be a key factor in the determination of most other checklist items. You’ll want to make sure your venue can easily accommodate the number of guests you’re inviting.
Tip #2:
Build an “emergency fund” into your budget. It doesn’t have to be major, but if you take a small percentage of your budget and put it toward “incidentals” then you’ll be good to go when extra things come up, or when you realize you forgot to purchase something.
Tip #3:
Know your guests. It’s a rule of thumb that 30% of your invited guests won’t attend, but it varies greatly on how many of your guests are out-of-town, if you’re planning a destination wedding, etc. Anticipating some of your RSVPs will greatly benefit your planning and costs.
Tip #4:
Hire plenty of staff for the bar. No one likes to wait for the party, and making sure you have plenty of bartenders available will ensure that your guests’ experience is excellent.
Tip #5:
Practice bustling your dress beforehand. Use this as an occasion to get together with a few of your best girlfriends. It’s rare that your girls will already know how to bustle a dress properly, and even if they do, every dress and bustle is different. Practice makes perfect, and in this case, can save you a few valuable minutes that you can put toward getting to enjoy your wedding.
Tip #6:
Have a rain plan! Whether you’re getting married outside or guests just have to be outside for a moment while shuttling between venues, nothing ruins the guest experience (and your hair) more than rain, so have a Plan B (or at least some umbrellas!) in case of unfortunate weather.
Tip #7:
Consider shuttling your guests. Not only does it enhance guest experience, but it also gives everyone the opportunity to let loose during the reception without having to worry about driving home afterward. It’s a win-win!
Tip #8:
Hire a planner (or at least a coordinator)! So this may be a more popular tip, but it’s such an important one, and not something you can typically do at the last minute. Even if you’re incredibly organized and don’t have that many moving parts to your wedding, you still can’t be everywhere at once, and you especially can’t enjoy the day if you’re running around handling everything. Let a professional handle it for you.
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
“Hey DJ, won’t you play that song? To keep me dancing all night long!”
There’s so many reasons to love weddings, but at the end of the day, let’s face it, everyone love a good party! And a good party needs great music, right? When it comes to your wedding tunes, you want it all to be perfect, so here are 5 tips guaranteed to help you get the party started.
1 Consider the moment
Does it seem like an appropriate choice to walk down the aisle to? Is it the song you always want to remember for your first dance? Or is it to kick off the reception and get everyone on their feet. Keep in mind what the song is being used for in order to set the right tone.
2 Let it reflect you as a couple
You should pick songs you can relate to, that have meaning to you or your culture, or that you at least know you love. No one wants to head into their ceremony or reception hearing a song they aren’t very fond of.
3 Remember your guests
Try to consider the audience of people attending your special day. While you both may love rap and want it played at the reception, your grandmother may hate it. Throw in a song or two that you know will make her happy. Having a few songs for a variety of genres and age groups is guaranteed to keep everyone happy to be there.
4 Variety is the spice of life
We already talked about genres and appealing to different age groups, but don’t forget to mix it up in other ways too. Toss in a few slow dances along with some great party dances that crowds always get on their feet for.
5 Remember that it’s your day
It’s YOUR wedding and there’s technically no right or wrong way to do anything. Go with your gut and choose what makes you happy as a couple. You don’t HAVE to walk down the aisle to “Canon in D.”
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
Wedding dress shopping is an incredible experience, and one that many brides have been excited about for for years. Whether you plan to visit every store around with your entire bridal entourage or find a couple small boutiques with your mother and maid of honor, it’s important to go in with an idea of what you’re looking for. Before we dive into the different silhouettes, here are a few important terms to remember when it comes to wedding gowns:
Bodice: This is the top of the dress, from the waist (which depending on the dress may not sit on your actual waist) up.
Skirt: The bottom of the dress. Typically made of tulle, organza, satin, or the like.
Embellishment: This is the “decoration” on the dress – think beading, lace, or even flowers.
Train: This is the length of the skirt where it drags the ground behind you. You can find gowns with no train, an extremely long one (cathedral), and everything in between.
Now that we’ve got those basic terms down, let’s talk about the fun stuff!
The Ballgown
This is what you think of when you think of fairy tales. It usually has a fitted bodice, and then flairs out at the waist (either naturally or dropped, meaning slightly lower than your natural waist) that flows into a large, full skirt. Great for a dreamy, romantic look.
The A-line
With a fitted bodice like the ballgown, the A-line also flairs at the waist into a much smaller skirt. The skirt typically resembles the shape of a letter “A” (hence the name), and gives off some of the look of a ballgown, without all the weight and poof.
The Trumpet
The bodice of a trumpet is much longer than the previous silhouettes, which accentuates the bride’s figure more. It typically flairs out at the hip into a fuller skirt, giving it a more dramatic look.
The Mermaid
Much like the trumpet, the mermaid has a much longer bodice, but it goes all the way down to the knee, showing even more figure than the trumpet. It typically gives a much more modern and dramatic look, since the skirt flairs so suddenly.
The Sheath
A sheath gown is much narrower than other silhouettes. It flows straight from the neck all the way to the floor, and can be very fitted, or have a little more give to it. It’s great for showing off your figure with a much simpler look.
The Tea-Length
If you’re dreading the thought of a long wedding gown (maybe even just for the reception), a tea-length silhouette is an option. This can be narrow like a sheath or have a fuller skirt, but usually falls between the ankle and the knee, making it less formal and easier to walk or dance in.
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
It’s time to send those invitations! Confused on the wording? Don’t know when to send them? Keep reading!
Traditional Wording
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith
request the pleasure of your presence
at the marriage of their daughter
Heather Marie
to
Michael Francis Jacobson
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and nineteen
At six o’clock in the evening
Plaza Hotel
New York, New York
Reception to follow
One Set of Parents Hosting
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith
request the pleasure of your company
at the marriage of their daughter
Heather Marie
to
Michael Francis Jacobson
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and nineteen
at half past four in the afternoon
Both Sets of Parents Hosting Jointly
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith &
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Franklin Jacobson
request the honor of your presence
at the marriage of their children
Heather Marie
and
Michael Francis
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and nineteen
at half past four in the afternoon
Couple Hosting
The honor of your presence
is requested at the marriage of
Heather Marie Smith
to Michael Francis Jacobson
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and nineteen
at half past four in the afternoon
Everyone Hosting
Ms. Heather Marie Smith
and
Mr. Michael Francis Jacobson
together with their parents
Mr. and Mrs. John L. Smith &
Mr. and Mrs. Mark Franklin Jacobson
request the honor of your presence
at their wedding
Saturday, the seventeenth of May
two thousand and nineteen
at half past four in the afternoon
IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
Keep in mind the three Ws:
Who. Include the full names of the bride and groom. For a formal invitation, include the full names of the hosts, too.
When. Clearly list the time, date, month and year of the event (spell these out!)
Where. Include where the event is taking place, with a full address (zip code not required).
As a general rule of thumb, the main invitation should only include the key details of your event. However, guests will appreciate additional information to be included in your invitation suite. A few details you may consider:
Attire. Should guests wear black-tie, garden party attire or will the wedding be themed? Don’t leave them guessing—tell them what to wear to a wedding!
Map. Whether you’re getting married in your hometown or you’re heading to a destination, out-of-town guests will appreciate a map and clear directions to any venues.
Accommodation Details. If you’ve reserved a block of rooms at a local hotel, give your guests plenty of time to reserve in advance.
Activities. Will there be dancing? A casual rehearsal dinner? A rollicking after-party? Let your guests know so they can plan appropriately.
Perfect timing. You want to ensure that your guests have plenty of time to clear their schedules in order to attend your event, so it’s important to send your invitations well in advance. Here are the general timing guidelines:
Save the Dates: Six to eight months in advance
Invitations: Six to eight weeks in advance
In addition, you’ll want to request RSVPs within three weeks of the event so you can get an accurate head count.
SOME THINGS ARE BETTER LEFT UNSAID
While certain rules have loosened up over the years, there’s one that still applies: don’t include gift or registry information on your invitation. This little detail is considered quite a faux pas. Instead, recruit family members and your wedding party to fill guests in on the detail if they ask, and include a link on your wedding website as well.
Speaking of your website, that link is better shared on your save the dates or invitation insert than on your actual invitation.
SIGNED, SEALED, DELIVERED
Here’s what to keep in mind when addressing envelopes:
Guests’ names should be written in full, with appropriate social titles included (i.e. Mr. and Ms.).
Spell out all words in an address and spell out house numbers less than 20.
The return address traditionally goes on the back flap and in many cases they’re still handwritten.
Keep in mind that responses and gifts will likely be sent to the return address on the invitation. If you’d rather have them sent to a different address, list it below the RSVP line.
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
If you’re engaged and starting to think about the details, odds are you’ve started thinking about hiring a planner to help with your big day. You may have already decided to do most of the planning yourself and make sure you have a coordinator to help the day run smoothly, or you may already know that planning isn’t your strong suit and you need someone to help with everything, but for those of you who are stuck in the middle and can’t decide what the right choice is, this one’s for you! Here are some of the key factors to consider when deciding if you should book a full planner or a wedding management package.
Things already completed
Do you already have all of the vendors booked, the design planned out, and some small items crossed off your checklist? Sure, there’s still plenty to do, but if you’ve already knocked out some of the major aspects of planning a wedding, then you may not get the true benefits of full planning, and may just want to make sure someone comes in during those final months to bring everything together.
Organization
Are you a pen-to-paper, “it doesn’t happen if it’s not in my planner,” coordinate everything alphabetically or by colors type of person? If so, you’re probably handling keeping up with vendors, payments, and an extensive checklist pretty well. If you’re not that type of person, that’s okay, but you may truly benefit from having a planner to do that work for you.
How easily do you get stressed out? If the slightest thing can ruin your day, you may definitely want to consider a full planner. They’ll help you remember payments, contracts, checklist items, and make sure you don’t forget any small details. A full planner can save you from feeling like everything is too overwhelming and that you would rather just elope!
Vision
When you picture your dream wedding, what do you see? Do you want a lavish event that’s heavily decorated and hosts the party of the year? Or do you want a smaller, more intimate family affair? Of course I highly recommend that you have a planner for any occasion, but if you’re dreaming of a smaller party, with plenty of family and friends to help set up your more simple decor items, then you may be fine with a wedding management package.
Location
Destination weddings are wonderful, but they’re very hard to coordinate from your hometown. Consider your choice of venue. Where is it and how from is it from where you live? How early will the venue let you come in to set up? Is it a short time frame that would require a small army to get everything done, or does the venue give you the whole day? All things to consider when choosing how involved your planner will be.
Budget
Sure, we all hate thinking about money, but when it comes to a wedding, you’re going to want to have a budget in place. However, you should consider how important that budget is. Are you paying for it yourself and have budgeted all the money you can for it or do you have some wiggle room to go over a little if needed? If you have a strict budget, a planner will be crucial to helping you stay the course and give you realistic expectations of what you can afford.
Guest Count
If you’ve invited everyone you know (and possibly everyone THEY know) then it’s probably a good idea to have a planner on board. You (or your parents) won’t want to handle all the moving parts that go in to wedding day, so it’s probably best to leave that to a professional.
Your Schedule
Do you have the time to plan it? If you have a career, maybe a family, and some hobbies or commitments in your life then you may not have the time to dedicate to your big day. Hiring a full planner can save you the time of researching vendors, recalculating that budget, brainstorming designs, emailing people over and over again, and more. Weddings are extensive to plan, and they take time and research. It’s not something you can easily handle overnight.
There you have it! I hope this cleared up some questions you may have had about what’s best for your special day. If you’re interested in hiring a full planner or a wedding management package, please reach out to me!
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
If you’re looking for the right team to put together your Multicultural wedding in DC, Virginia, and Maryland, contact Mimi Ebichi’s team to make your dream wedding come to life! We have a comprehensive list of wedding vendors who can cater to your personal requests.
