Crisis Averted: Tornado Warning

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 Usually my “Crisis Averted” stories aren’t *true* crisis in the grand scheme of things, but are definite hindrances to creating a fabulous event and perfect memory.  

And sometimes they are. 

A local non-profit held their annual fundraiser every year at this venue I used to work for.  It was an outdoor event and, let me tell you damned the luck, almost every single year weather tried to take it out.  Then again, I wouldn’t call it bad luck per se. It’s April in Texas. Rabid thunderstorms regularly appear out of thin air.  

I’d had a “tornado issue” with this event once in the past, but it wasn’t too much of a bother.  End of the night, guests are gone and it’s just who’s left of the vendors, staff and myself when we hear the tornado sirens go off.  A quick radio down to security confirms that there *could* be an issue so they send us to the closest safe area – the weather theater on site. (Insert ironic joke here.)  Funnel clouds had been spotted, but they were miiiiiles away and we were safe. 

So it’s a new year for this event and as we grow closer, the weather reports again don’t look promising for the event.  My client is, as always, progressively more worried and I take my usual “don’t think about it until I have to” approach. (I’d done so many rain plans with this group that it was all muscle memory at that point.  So much so that the venue called me the year after I left to remind them what the rain plan was.)  

The day of the event, tornados are part of the forecast.  We’re slightly more concerned but weather forecasts are a crap shoot and you just never know.  We even joked around about it.  My boss and I email the head of security to ask what we do just in case.  This usually very cut and dry man replies, ”RUUUUUUUUUNNNN!!!!!!!!!!!”  

I still look at that email when I need a laugh.  

Come set up time, we weren’t laughing.  Tornados were a serious possibility.  A few had struck and a severe band of storms were coming directly at us.  The client flat refused to cancel so the show goes on.   

As crews, staff and the client’s volunteers arrive, I make sure everyone knows where the safe areas are and to be ready to duck and cover, because there WILL be a duck and cover moment.  Security tells me that when the band of storms hits Loop 820 (about 6 miles away), we’ll take cover.   Shortly there after I get the nod and start moving people in.  

All except for a casino guy that was running late and insistent that he be “set up on time.”  I tell him that nobody is going to be set up on time because we all have to take cover.  

“I’ll risk it.”  

“Look around.  You’re surrounding by windows.  It’s not safe, so let’s GO!” 

“I’ll be fine.” 

“I tried so if you get impaled with shards of glass, it’s not my problem,” then get to the safe spot myself.  

Moments later, security stopped him and brought him into the safe area while we waited.  

And waited. 

And waited. 

Eventually we got the all clear and resumed set up.  All in all, it turned out to be a good event and they still pulled about 50% of their estimated attendance.  An excellent turnout considering a number of tornadoes affected the area.  

What worried me most was that I had just hired a large number of new staff and this was their first event.  I said to one of them, “In your interview I told you that you’d be outside and possibly working in cold, rain, hot and sweaty conditions but never mentioned tornado.  How do you feel about that?”  My fab staffer replied, 

“That’s OK.  This is Texas.  If I had a problem with a tornado, I should just move.”

Pre-Wedding Festivities

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I can honestly say that this was something that I’d never thought about, much less thought I’d actually have to tell people.  Yet as soon as it was brought to my attention, I IMMEDIATELY had to write about it.  I didn’t think this had to be said, but obviously it does. 

Brides. Do NOT invite people to your engagement, bridal shower or bachelorette party that aren’t invited to the wedding!  Can we say, AWKWARD??  

I’m sure – or at least I hope – you mean well.  In certain circumstances – destination or teeny wedding – it’s perfectly okay.  But otherwise, it’s just rude.  

First, you are putting the pre-festivities only invitee in an extremely uncomfortable position.   Do they go and hope that nobody talks about the wedding (like that’s going to happen) so they’re not outed as un-invited?  Or do they graciously decline only to worry what your mutual friends are thinking about the lack of appearance?  

Next, we have the message that you’re sending.  You may not mean it, but the gesture says, “I think just enough of you to take your gift or party for a bit, but you don’t mean enough to have at the real celebration.” 

Now is this really the message you want to send?  

If you have a friend that you want to spend some time with but for whatever reason aren’t inviting to your wedding, then please, PLEASE do NOT invite her to pre-wedding events.  Take her to lunch or coffee or happy hour or brunch or some other non-wedding related, non-awkward activity.  You’ll both feel better for it.

Guests vs. Hosts

Dear Abby’s column was brought to my attention this morning.  A column regarding leaving a reception before eating due to wait time for dinner and the volume of the DJ’s music created a  firestorm of bad wedding experience responses.   Here’s how I see it: 

In general, most people don’t like attending weddings unless it’s that of a close friend.  It’s OK to admit this.  We’re all friends here.  As many times as I’ve seen people looking bored in a corner (and you have too.  Perhaps you were that person?) we all know it’s true.

Brides – Have some thought to your guests’ comfort and enjoyment.  Yes, it’s your day and the event definitely should exude your style and personality.  However, if your style and personality veers far from the norm, then at least give it a comfortable framework for more traditional guests to cling to. 

Guests – You are an invited guest and should be gracious in your acceptance.  Someone thought so much of you that they wanted to include you.  If you R.S.V.P. yes then you need to show up, be present and be joyous.  If you don’t like the way the event is set up because it’s not your style or you don’t think it’s “right” then suck it up, be present and be joyous.  This event isn’t about you.  If you’re having a bad time you can always vent to a friend about it later.  But don’t be a wet blanket while you’re there. Nobody wants a wet blanket at their party.

Let’s face it – we all have our “wedding war stories.”  I once found myself at a wedding that tapped a keg before the ceremony and the *meal* (the wedding was at dinnertime) was a veggie tray from Albertson’s.  Needless to say, I stopped for a real dinner on the way home.  The  point is, I sucked it up, was present and celebrated the wedding.  The only person that knows any different is the person I went with. (And now you.)  If you can’t do that for a couple of hours for a friend, stay home.

Remember.  This day isn’t about a party.  It’s about two people who are committing their lives to each other.  It’s just a few hours – make the most of it.

Quick Tip: The Get-away Car

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Do yourself a gianormous favor and hire a limo or car service or something so that you’ve got a sober professional to work with when you’re ready to leave your wedding. 

Or in the very least, enlist an older, trustable, SOBER family member. 

The last thing you want when you’re trying to leave is to be stuck waiting because the friend appointed to bring the car around is to drunk to remember where it is, much less drive it.

Food Geek Friday: Blueberry Green Tea Slushie

This blueberry green tea slushie is such a great way to use currently in season blueberries and beat the heat all at the same time.  I can’t remember where I first saw this recipe, but I’m so glad I did!

Blueberry Green Tea Slushie

• Green Tea
• Blueberries
• Water
• Honey or sweetener of choice

Start by brewing 2 green tea bags in 2 cups super-hot water for about 5 minutes.  While the tea is steeping, place blueberries in each cube of an ice cube tray.  (I did 5 each.)  Top with green tea and freeze.

In a blender add green tea/blueberry ice cubes, water to get to the consistency you’d like and honey to taste.  Blend the heck out of it, pour into glass and enjoy!

Bridal Gowns – Not Your Usual Dress Shopping Experience

In the span of less than 24 hours, two local news stories about bridal gown issues were brought to my attention.  In one, the bride signed a contract, received her dress exactly as requested, approved and loved it only to complain it was “too short” after her mother wanted her in higher heels.  In the other, the bride is complaining about the dress shop owner’s no returns policy.  The bridal party switched to less expensive dresses but the shop owner won’t refund the difference from their original order.  Since all payments hadn’t been received yet, the dress shop owner also wasn’t releasing the dresses.

In the first complaint scenario – the bride had NOTHING to gripe about.  Nothing.  The contract was properly fulfilled and even though they didn’t need to, the dress shop went well beyond the “above and beyond” to have another dress made and rush shipped at their own expense.  In the end all they got for their hard work and stress was bad press for something that wasn’t their fault.

In the second scenario, the bride has a little wiggle room for complaining but just a little.  Personally, I think if the dresses haven’t been ordered or made, then the shop owner should allow for the difference in pricing.  However, if the dresses are ordered and made then the shop owner could have charged them for both. 

So here it is ladies – bridal gown shopping is NOT like hopping on over to JCPenney or Ann Taylor or wherever you pick up an off the rack dress that anybody can wear.  

• Give yourself plenty of time to allow for dress making and then alterations.  Nothing is immediate or overnight.  Even asking for your gown back in a week is a hard push.  Give as much time as possible to ensure your stress level can stay low just incase something goes awry.  
• Do your research.  READ your contract.  Know and understand what you’re getting into before you sign.  If your gown is custom-made to your measurements then it is a RARE occurence that there is another girl out there with your style and measurements.  You could and should be charged because that dress cannot restocked and sold. 
• Purchase from a reliable dress shop – it is worth every. single. penny!

If you’re unsure, talk to your wedding planner.  That’s one of the many reasons why you should hire one in the first place.

A Wedding’s High Prices

I had a different topic chosen for this morning’s blog post until I read an article titled, “Why do Weddings Cost so Much?”  I’d link back to it but it didn’t actually give a reason.  Since I actually get this question a lot, I’m going to give my own personal opinion on why weddings cost more. 

Two words: high maintenance.

A wedding is the equivalent to a very elaborate Rube Goldberg machine or a fantastic heist movie.  If one tiny thing goes wrong or is timed off, then the whole thing falls apart.  Take the ceremony where the musicians were buried in their music instead of paying attention to their cues.  As I’m trying to get their attention to change songs to cue the men to come out, the girls decide to come out on their own before the men did.  The train has jumped track all because of a split second where the musician didn’t look up and catch his cue.  (A classical musician is accustomed to looking at music and the director at the same time, so this should have been second nature.)

Next we add in ridiculous expectations of perfection set about by years and years of marketing, television, media, magazines, movies and any other outlet you can think of.  Many vendors play along with this flowery marketing language of the day’s perceived perfection and grandiose idea that it’s the ”most important day of your life.”  

Let’s take a moment to look at that realistically – the most important day of your life.  So if you get married in your twenties, then the next 50 to 60 years of your life are downhill??  Birth of your children not too important?  When you have a career success or your children have a major success then that’s not as important either?!  Not to mention if you divorce and marry again (and again and again) then where do those days stack up? 

The wedding is definitely an important day and occasion, but not more important than the marriage you’re about to enter into and certainly not the most important day of your life.  But these expectations lead to drama, which leads to stress.  High stress tends to make people over-emotional and act in irrational ways they normally wouldn’t.  Even the most chilled out bride will have some drama in the planning process be it a vendor issue or even a friend that decides to cause drama because they think there needs to be some. (We all know those types!)

So here it is: 

Lot’s o work + delusions of perfection + irrational emotions = high price because wedding vendors are going to make sure they’re properly, monetarily compensated for all of the work, stess and emotional outbursts that they’ll deal with through the course of working with a bride.  (P.S. – that’s another reason planners can get discounts that brides can’t.  Planners are a buffer between these things and the vendor.)

So what do you think?  Spot on or have I finally jumped the shark?

College Course on Wedding Scams?

Not too long ago, I learned that a 4-year, accredited college is actually offering a course FOR CREDIT on how to avoid wedding planning scams.   Yes, this course goes towards an actual degree.  (Really it just enforces that rumor that ladies only go there to get their “M.R.S.”)

So, needless to say, I HAD to get my hands on the textbook!  (Not sure it can be called that given its numerous mistakes and poor publishing quality, but we’ll run with it.)

Overall, this book was just offensive to any true professional in the industry.  Its foundation is the premise that the entire industry is out to steal your money.  When discussing planners, they say that the big difference in choosing a planner is if they are male or female and that the men are task oriented where the women only focus on “pearls and fru fru.”   (Seriously…I can’t make this up!)

For anyone that has worked with me, spoken to me or even just read more than one post on this blog…you know that made me want to pitch a redheaded fit, as well as being patently untrue.

Yes, the wedding industry wants your money.  Shocker.  Guess what?  So does every other self-respecting business with a sustainable business model.  What matters is that you receive what you were promised for that money.

Like with any industry that has as big of a draw as weddings, there will be scams. Personally, I think the tuition on this college course is one of them. 

As I’ve said time and again – take cues from the people you’re interviewing to hire.  If you have to chase down a venue or vendor to get information, then they’re probably not a good choice.  You’re trying to give them money after all!   Go with your gut.  Ask questions.  Use who respects your money, treats you in a manner becoming a top-notch client and will provide you with the vision and feeling you want to have on your wedding day.

Event “Hangover”

Everyone talks about the fun stuff when planning your event.  The internet is overrun with information from budgeting to cake to photographers and a full range of details from quaint DIY to high-end personalization.  Friends are more than happy to lend their two cents (whether asked for or not.)  However, nobody seems to warn you about the day after. 

Just like in an over-indulgence in frosty adult beverages, spending months planning for a single event, plus the constant adrenaline rush during that event can leave you drained and feeling spent the next day. 

This is totally normal!  As a matter of fact, just go ahead and plan for it.  Don’t make any pressing appointments for the next day other than a nice massage, meal or movie date.

The trusted remedy that I and many of my colleagues use?  A day in bed watching bad television and movies.  A total mental vacation always works!

So while you’re preparing for your big day, go ahead and prepare for the crash afterwards.  You’ll be glad you did.

Food Geek Friday: Kale Quiche

As I’ve mentioned before, I have a share with a local CSA.  I’ve been super-excited about it since I signed up and having just picked food at my fingertips has been truly fantastic.  Let me tell you, eating corn on the cob picked less than 24 hours ago is a real eye-opener to what you thought was great from the store. 

The only relative downside is that it has also been a TON of food for just me and has forced me to get more creative.  (Job perk though is that getting more creative in the kitchen has also opened me to finding creative ideas for my clients!)

In the beginning of the Spring share, there were a lot of different greens.  Way more than a girl that’s not that into leafy greens could eat.  So I got started toying around. 

I love eggs.  And eggs are a great foil for random vegetable related leftovers.  Omelets are a great go-to but my omelet making skills are still a work in progress.   Instead, I purchased some pastry shells to pour things into and that’s when I started making this Quiche.

Kale Quiche

Ingredients

• Kale – cleaned and chopped
• eggs
• cream
• garlic
• uncooked pastry shell
• salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray a saute pan with olive oil and saute garlic until just done.  Add kale and saute until just wilted. 

While sautéing the kale, beat the eggs with just a little hit of cream to within an inch of their life.  Add kale into your egg mixture and pour into the pastry shells.

Bake for approximately 17 minutes - until the eggs are just cooked in the center.  Don’t over-cook because the eggs will keep cooking after you take them out of the oven. 

Dig in!

For this recipe, I used individual shells that came from the freezer section, but if you’re cooking for more than one person you can use a full pie shell.  This recipe is really just a guideline for you to build on.  I’ve also thrown in cheeses and I’ve used all different manner of vegetables.  Have fun with it and if you try it, let me know!