Happy New Year, Bitchy Bride Readers!

Resolution this! Resolution that! Quit Smoking. Lose Weight. Clear Debt. Get a better Job. Come on people!!!  New Year’s Resolutions can be a tough shtick, so instead of gearing up for disappointment come week three of January, we thought we would play it safe and share a few tips that we know will stick.

Tips on tipping!

According to Anita K. Henry, Brides.com, “It’s customary to give gratuities to your wedding vendors – but to whom? When? How much?”

To add to the confusion, some vendors include a gratuity in their contracts, while others leave tipping to your discretion. Ask before you sign, so that you know whether tipping is optional or contractual. Here’s a breakdown of what to expect and what to do:

When Gratuities Are Expected

Waitstaff at the rehearsal dinner

How much tip? For parties of 20 or more, a gratuity of approximately 20 percent will automatically be added to the bill.

Wedding-day transportation

How much tip? 20 percent of the total cost.

When to tip: Most transportation companies allow the option of paying in advance or on the day of the wedding.

Give the job to: the best man. He can be in charge of paying any outstanding transportation bills and tips.

Reception staff (including the manager, maitre d’, waitstaff, bartenders, and powder-room, coat-check, and parking attendants)

How much tip? 18–20 percent of final reception bill. (This is usually split between the manager, maitre d’, waitstaff, and attendants.)

When to tip: The bill and tips are usually paid a few days prior to the reception.

DJ/musicians at reception.

How much tip? $20–$25 for each musician.

When to tip: at the end of the reception.

Give the job to: the best man. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

When Tipping is Optional

Delivery-truck drivers (cake, rental equipment) and workers who set up rental equipment (tents, tables, and chairs)

How much tip? $5–$25 per person, depending on difficulty of the tasks.

When to tip: Upon delivery or post setup.

Give the job to: The person accepting deliveries or the person in charge of setting up the ceremony and reception sites. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Officiant

How much to tip? $100 and up. It’s common to make a donation to the church/synagogue or to a charity in the officiant’s name in lieu of a tip.

When to tip: Donations can be made prior to the wedding, presented at the rehearsal dinner or given after the ceremony.

Give the job to: the best man, if you wait until the wedding weekend.

Organist/musicians for ceremony

How much to tip? $20–$25 for each musician.

When to tip: at the end of the ceremony.

Give the job to: the best man. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Reception-hall manager/maitre d’

How much to tip? $30 or more for each, depending on the size of the wedding and the final reception bill.

When to tip: at the end of reception.

GIVE THE JOB TO: The father of the bride or the best man. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Waitstaff and bartenders

How much to tip? $20 per person or 10 percent of the total bar tab for bartenders. (Also, instruct the maitre d’ that guests should not be solicited for tips.)

When to tip: at the end of the reception. If you are tipping a percentage, you will need to know the final bar tab first.

Give the job to: the maitre d’. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Powder-room, coat-check, and parking attendants

How much to tip? Each attendant should receive $.50–$1 per guest. (Also, instruct the maitre d’ that guests should not be solicited for tips.)

When to tip: at the end of the reception.

Give the job to: the maitre d’. Have cash envelopes prepared in advance.

Hair and makeup artists

How much to tip? 10-15 percent of total cost.

When to tip: at the end of service.

Manicurist

HOW MUCH TO TIP? 15-20 percent of total cost.

When to tip: At the end of service.

Masseuse (pre-wedding massage)

How much to tip? 15–20 percent of total cost.

When to tip: at the end of service.

Tips You Can Ship

Although you can always tip or send a thank-you note for exceptional work, these vendors do not generally receive gratuities for their services:

Wedding consultant

Stationer

Bridal shop

Seamstress for alterations

Tux shop

Jeweler

Cake baker

Florist

Caterer

Photographer and assistant
 Videographer

Travel agent for honeymoon

Everyone who knows me , know I’m OBSESSED with all things vintage and antique. The thought of something traveling through the decades without getting broken or damaged, simply fascinates me! Heart shaped sunglasses, a bridal gown to the knee, old Chevy, tower punch bowl AND a multi colored jell-o mold !! I HAVE to do this wedding!!  xoxo-N

From the boss to the intern, whether you work for a cool company or not, Matthew Latkiewicz of New York Magazine’s Grub Street blog has laid out the do’s and don’ts for holiday office party celebrations. Follow these rules of thumb, so that you don’t end up having to apologize for inappropriate behavior at your office party this year…

One of the things that makes office holiday parties both wonderful and awful is how often they devolve into total drunken shitshows. Several years ago, after a particularly debauched evening, I had to write an e-mail to a former boss apologizing for “that whole shirtless ABBA thing.” His response: “I don’t remember anything from last night.” This is the conundrum of holiday parties: You need a drink because it softens the awkwardness of mixing work relationships with holiday merriment, but drink too much and you’ll end up in a situation that’s far more awkward in the sobering fluorescent light of Monday morning. Ideally you want to locate yourself right on the boundary of personal embarrassment. I’m here to help you find that line, and retain your dignity.

Obviously, staying sober is one way to avoid morning-after embarrassment, but let’s just work on the theory that this method is bunk. In the same way nobody wants to be the office drunk, nobody wants to be the office prude.

Here, then, is a handy guide to getting just drunk enough at your company’s holiday party:

To read the full article go to: http://newyork.grubstreet.com/2011/11/the-grub-street-guide-to-office-party-drinking.html

Yes, Dorothy may have started the tradition in her ruby reds, but we all seem to be running towards the light now too. From Prada to Payless, we have a sparkly pair for you should you dare to be dazzling this holiday season!

I have so many purple weddings this year! It is definitely the color of the year! We absolutely love La Tavola Linen’s Isabella in Purple AND Orchid (seen above) The texture in the rosette pattern is INSANELY fabulous!

A gift for your host or hostess is a lovely way to thank them for their hospitality and is always appreciated. It doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive; simply consider the nature of the occasion and local custom when making your choice. According the etiquette guru, Emily Post “In some parts of the country, a hostess gift is considered obligatory, while in other places a gift is brought only on special occasions.”  Here are a few tips on when and what is appropriate when considering gifting your host or or hostess…

Casual dinner party: Dinner party guests usually bring a hostess gift unless they are close friends who dine together frequently. Gift possibilities include wine, Champagne, flowers (preferably in a vase), a potted plant, chocolates, specialty food items such as jams and jellies or other condiments, fancy nuts, olives, olive oil or vinegars, or items for the house, such as cocktail napkins, guest soaps and lotions, a picture frame, or a scented candle. A CD or book is also appropriate if you know your host’s taste.

Formal dinner party: Gifts aren’t usually taken to large, formal dinners.

When there’s a guest of honor: If it’s a birthday, anniversary, graduation, or shower, bring a gift for the honoree.

When you’re the guest of honor: Bring a gift for your host or hostess, or send flowers before the party. After the party, send a thank-you note.

Housewarming: It’s customary to bring a gift to a housewarming. It doesn’t have to be expensive, but it should be something lasting for the house. Possible gifts include guest towels, a houseplant, a patio or garden plant, glasses, dish towels, a picture frame, specialty foods like a great olive oil or preserves, or a cheeseboard and/or cheese knives. Update an old-fashioned housewarming tradition of giving salt, and bring fancy sea salt and/or a saltbox or saltcellar. If the housewarming is for a neighbor new to your town, consider putting together a welcome kit containing area maps, the town paper, restaurant menus, bookmarks from your favorite bookstore, transportation schedules, and information on local parks and recreation facilities- anything that will make it easier for her to feel welcome and at home in her new community.

Weekend Visit: Either bring or send a gift. Your gift of choice will depend on the length of your stay and how elaborately you’re entertained. While you don’t have to break the bank, your gift should be sincere, thoughtful, and personal.

Holiday celebrations are full of sharing good times and good food with friends and family. Yet many traditional holiday foods are high in sugar, fat and salt — and the sheer length of the modern holiday season (does it seem to last from Halloween to New Year’s?) can exhaust even the best of dietary intentions.

Here are a few suggestions for staying health-focused during this time of year:

• Eat a healthy, filling snack or small meal before heading out to a holiday party; it’s easier to make sensible food and drink choices on a full stomach.
• Think about reconfiguring your holiday plate: Larger portions of vegetables and whole grains and smaller portions of meats and animal products will leave you feeling satisfied and boost your nutrient intake.
• Choose a smaller (salad, or dessert-size) plate when you head over to a holiday buffet, and you’ll naturally take smaller portions of each dish. You can still enjoy all the flavors of the season, but you’re more likely to do it with just a spoon or two or a single slice of each offering.
• Take a healthy dish along to contribute to holiday meals, parties and potlucks. This way you’ll always have at least one great option to fill up on.

Hello my  bitchy babes,

Kayla’s back to drop some fierce or fail knowledge on your wedding-fried brains.  Today let’s chat about wedding favors.  In my opinion, favors are the perfect fierce or fail topic because there are just SO many favors in the realm of “bad, and ugly” than in the “good”.  (and I love to bitch!) So let’s get started.

When wedding guests were asked what they would classify as the best and worst wedding favors they’ve received were most replied with either something chocolate, alcoholic, or sugar coated.  SURPRISE, SURPRISE!  Let’s get real brides, we all enjoy coming to your wedding to partake in the libations and “get jiggy with it” until the hotel staff starts shoving us into taxis.  (and of course celebrate your unending love for one another…duh) But getting your guests favors, just for the sake of doing a favor isn’t the greatest idea.  One jilted wedding guest breaks it down for us…

“Basically, if you find yourself looking for a favor because you think you have to have one and it has to match a theme (and not because you already have this great idea) then you’re better off just skipping it. Let me tell you, we guests neither care nor appreciate the expense you incurred for the plastic garbage that will end up left on the table or in the trash bin.” –anonymous yahoo user

Ouch!  But listen up ladies, because it’s true.

Check out these hit and miss favors and let us know what you think!

Say whaa?? #FAIL

Thoughts?!

xoxo

Kayla