Mamie Bridal Buzz

You’ve seen the movie.  I’ve seen the movie.  We’ve all had dreams of being one.  And, who wouldn’t?!  It’s like a new, juicy romance every weekend.  You get to decide on venues, pick out flowers and colors, see beautiful gowns and dresses, eat delicious desserts and treats, and listen to music and bands, all the while transforming what would be a boring room, into a fairytale for a day.  Riiiiiiight.  I think in all the romance, wedding planning can be more overwhelming than a girl could ever imagine going into the Big Day.  So, I thought, why not get a lil advice for all the brides to be out there from the BEST.

So, I called on a dear friend of ours, Samantha Diedrick, who owns Secretariat, one of the best local, wedding and event planning companies around.  And, for anyone that knows her, knows she’s on top of her sh****!  Which is probably what makes her so extraordinary at what she does.  So, I asked her to give us some of her thoughts and favorites when it comes to getting hitched.

ME:  Tell me a little bit about yourself.  How you got into the business etc., just to give our readers a little knowledge of who you are.

SD: I grew up in New York City, and my mom was an event planner, so I helped her on events when I was younger.  I went to college in Boston and really had no idea what I wanted to do. I got a degree in Management and worked in a restaurant group for 6 years doing their events and new restaurant openings.  Then, moved to Wilmington and started working at Secretariat.  I worked my way up to VP and then ended up buying the company.  It has been a LOT of work and owning your own business does have its pros and cons, as you know.  But I do love what I do, well – depending on the client of course!

ME: What is the best advice you would have have for any bride?

SD: Oh gosh, I could go on and on!  I think realizing that it is not necessarily the most important day of your life – you will have so many things happen in your life and if you have children, that may very well be the most important day in your life.  Do not get so caught up in the planning that you lose sight of what you are doing – you are getting married.  MARRIED – that is a big commitment and something that should not be taken lightly… just because you are picking out fonts and linens and favors, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t be focusing on the two of you as well.  Spend time with your fiancé, enjoy being engaged, look forward to the day, and the honeymoon, but even more so to the marriage after.

She does good work!

ME: Biggest mistake brides make with their wedding or the planning of the wedding?

SD: Not having a realistic budget or guest list before they start looking at places.  I always feel terrible when a bride runs right out and loves a place, only to find they have a very high food and beverage minimum that they cannot cover.  Or the space will not hold all of their guests.  Weddings cost MONEY.  Even if you do not know every dollar you have to spend, find out who is paying or contributing and how much you may need to cover yourself.  ALSO – NO ONE should ever go into debt for a wedding, EVER. I feel very strongly about that.

ME: Best money saving advice for a wedding?
SD: Hire a planner! Ha, kidding… but seriously, it can save you so much time, stress and money when working with a professional instead of using the yellow pages or vendors you do not know.  And the wedding websites are great, but can be overwhelming.  But, also the day of, even if you cannot afford a planner for the whole thing, consider it… That way you can really relax, enjoy time with your family and wedding party and not worry about anything going wrong.  And if it does, it can be fixed and more than likely – the bride may never even know about it!  Be smart with you money, think about the things that are most important to you. If the location is beautiful, don’t spend so much on flowers. If you want a rocking band versus a dj, then cut back someplace else.

ME: What is your favorite flower?
SD: Personally, I love peonies and hydrangea.  I love lots of whites, creams, greens and light pink.  I am pretty traditional that way.  I love the use of branches and greenery and of course candles. LOVE candles!

ME:  And, just for kicks, whats is your favorite sweet treat?!
SD: Me personally, I am a Peanut M&M’s girl.  Always have a bowl out at my house.  And I would eat ice cream everyday if I could…. For a wedding,cupcakes is pretty popular.  Some people still like chocolate fountains. I am not a fan of a served dessert, then cake, then a dessert buffet – just way too much!

So, there you have it!  Ladies who have been through it, what’s your best advice?  What would you do over, what did you love, what did you hate?  Ask us fashion questions, tell us your story, let us know your thoughts, we love to hear from you!

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