Angel Bride #7 - Tina

I actually found Tina - she'd placed an ad on CL - the saddest little ad I've seen. They had the venue, an old church in Brea - very dark, dim, and gothic looking. Not at all what she'd envisioned for her wedding day. She just wanted to make it something even close to what she was hoping to have.

It took a few attempts to get ahold of them, and it was actually Kyle that called to make sure it wasn't a cruel joke. It took a little convincing, but we got them to come in, and I told them to take a look and they could use whatever they wanted. They didn't want anything for the reception, just the church.

Kyle was very excited, but poor Tina was incredibly overwhelmed and couldn't come up with anything solid to ask for. This was a big turning point for me - I realized so many things thanks to Tina and I can't thank her enough. I realized that 1)what seems to me to be just 'stuff' at time and 'no big deal' ISN'T just stuff or no big deal to someone who has nothing; and 2)that I need to not reveal the 'closet' until after we have gotten through the haze or realizing that someone really is offering to help and really isn't asking for anything in return but a picture (well, okay a thank you is always nice, too). So the first trip came and went - they came back again with help this time - they came back two more times as a matter of fact and by the last time, she was smiling as she tried on veils and tiaras!

We got them loaded up with all the pretty stuff - they came back a few days later with tales of a lovely wedding and many new additions to our Fairy GodMothers Closet as well as the important lessons I got from them. Thank you so much Tina & Kyle

Angel Bride # 6 - Daisy

Oh my gosh - Daisy and her fiance Phil came to me through my dearest friend Kim Turcotte - an amazing floral designer with a heart the size of Texas! She has an organization called Weddings on Ice and together we decided that we wanted to give a wedding away - she put an all call out through the Register, ran a contest for a military couple. Being the proud wife of a retired marine (Semper Fi) I was sooo in from the get go. We had our first couple who were both active duty - we were so excited! Sadly the conflict of last year called them both to deployment but we already had the date set!

Fortunately for us, Phils sister saw the all call and sent an amazing, loving heartfelt letter to Kim telling us the story of Phil, Daisy, their love, him going into active duty and their wanting to be married prior to him going so that he could know solidly that his wife and son were taken care should anything happen to him during this deployment.

Oh, this was amazing we though - and thus the planning began - I handled the couple, Kim handled just about everyone else. I reached out to my dear friend Rev. Ogannes Agayan (www.idowithyou.com) and asked him how he felt about performing a wedding - ON ICE! shared their story with him, and he was in!

Kim and I met with the couple to discuss details of what they'd like to see happen, told them of all the regulations of the arena that offered the venue for the wedding, revamped how we were going to do everything..... wow, a wedding on ice - capacity crowd, televised, young couple... what were we thinking? I could see the disappointment in their faces - 2 minutes for getting on the ice, 2 for the ceremony, maaaybe 3 and then 1 to get off - regulation says there can only be 6 minutes between hockey periods. Aye Carumba batman -

So....back to Rev. Ogannes I went, asking him if we could do a second, much more intimate, relaxed ceremony - a do-over - just for Phil and Daisy. Of course he proclaimed. To see them smile and be happy again was such a blessing!

The dress - oh the most amazing dress! and I am so very proud to say that it came from my very own FGM Closet - a brand new gown I purchased not a month earlier, never been worn or even tried on - I pulled them all out for her to look at and see if one spoke to her. We found one that would work, it was 'okay'. We talked about her style, her dream and I suddenly remembered having one more gown hanging at home. A quick phone call, in comes the gown, I opened it and her eyes lit up! This was the one!

The wedding day - wow is an understatement! The arena approaches me with a photographer who's going to shadow me around for the day - me?? okay whatever keep up. We talk, she snaps pictures, we get Daisy ready, she's (Maya, I think)silently snaps away - time for the big reveal to the mom - she got it on film - amazing! Such a wonderful day!

About a week later I get a call from her editor - they want to interview both myself and Daisy to write the article that matches the photos - the little pictorial spread had grown. Daisy's quote? "Next to the birth of our son, it was the best day of our lives". The article was published in the April 25th edition of the Inland Living Magazine!

Here's to Phil and Daisy!

Thanks to my dear friend and colleage A. Michaels Photography for the use of the photo!

Angel Bride #5 - April

April is one of my brides who needed rental stuff but had no budget for the normal route. She saw one of our ads on good ole CL and responded with her list.

We put together a package deal where basically everything you need for 150 people, we offer it one of two ways - if you have $350.00 you can 'rent' it - if not, you can 'borrow' them. We ask that you take care of them and also contribute something else back to the FGM Closet. If we have volunteers or team members available we will offer to go help set up and tear down if they want or need it. But sometimes? they just need the stuff and want to do it themselves, which we fully support.

Her wedding colors were something that we didn't have in stock, so I bartered my fees for fabric with one of my other clients who was already ordering organza in bulk. We made overlays and chair sashes to match her colors.

Delivery was fun - the first batch was delivered no problem, but they forgot a few items and we were still finishing up making the linens. So we made a second trip for delivery - bumper to bumper traffic! Arrived to drop off at 10pm although we left at 5:30pm.... (minor route detour there)

I heard back that the wedding was gorgeous, got pictures in my inbox and a major contribution back to our closet - thank you so much April and your wonderful mom, too!

Angel Bride #2 - Kortney

I just love Kortney! I met her through her posting on Craigslist - she posted not long after Kerrys third update to her ad on CL - this would have been in August. Kortney believes not only in pay it forward, but doing so in advance! She came and helped with Kerrys wedding preparations on more than one occasion - came and worked my first bridal show with me and worked the December 5th wedding with me -and even brought a friend! I was so inspired after hearing that Kortneys fiance' Charles lived in Vegas, wouldn't be moving out here until not too long before the wedding, so she was doing most of the planning on her own - and all of the money was coming from them as well.

The venue that was offered to her was a lovely older church that isn't used for weddings and receptions very often, but it was perfect for what they needed and wanted. The folks at Grace Bible Church in Fullerton couldn't have been more accommodating!

Many wonderful people from Team Angel came together to make an special day amazing - Kitty put on a spread not to be beaten for an unheard of price she'd seen Kortney working at all of my events and said - "Oh we need to take good care of this girl!". I was so excited to learn that Rob had stepped in and taken on her wedding - he is such a sonsummate professional that is pure joy to work with! Michelle from Mire La Chancla jumped was IN and made a gorgeous pair of Havianis. Will would have been there but had already been booked on that date - but the photographer she got was excellent and took some amazing photos.

It was a beautiful wedding - filled with many of lifes precious moments to include a family ceremony to include Gabi and a father daughter dance that would melt your heart.

Kortney, Charles and Gabi - thank you so much for everything you've done for us here and for allowing us to be part of your amazing day!

Angel Bride # 4 - Kim & Stevens Wedding

Throughout the time I was planning Kerry and Kurts wedding, I would always scour the CL postings to find other brides that just needed some help. Kim was one of those brides. She and Steven were so excited to get married - but her father was going through cancer treatments and she couldn't bare the thought of asking him to help pay for a wedding. She herself couldn't do much of the planning as she was in the midst of a high risk pregnancy and needed to avoid stress as much as possible.

There were lots of breaks in our correspondence as lifes moments happened for Kim and Steven, but low and behold they were able to come up with a date - December 12, 2009. My moms birthday! What a great day! Just a small, intimate group of 12 plus our couple.

We found them a venue they wanted, Leslie Park in Dana Point, so of course I suggested to them that they plan their lunch at Pete Truxaw's Salt Creek Grille - the best place for a small wedding party to dine. All seemed set - except the gown -not many places have maternity gowns that don't look like a mumu - so we set out searching for her, found several for her to choose from and delivered them to her so she could try them on (by mid- November she was on bedrest) we finally found one that worked and she loved! YAY!!! All is set and ready to go!

Flash forward to December 11, 2009 - TORRENTIAL RAIN.... also forecast for Saturday -hmmm Leslie Park - outdoor wedding - torrential rain - this is not going to make for a good day. Quickly typing, I contacted Pete and Christy at Salt Creek to find out if they had somewhere we could have a quiet, intimate wedding - once again they proved just WHY we love Salt Creek - they opened up their Private Library to our couple and provided what turned out to be the most romantic, intimate, candlelit wedding!

Kerry heard of the wedding and insisted on doing the flowers - paying it forward and they were drop dead gorgeous! My amazing friend William Dick (WDPhoto.inc - my faaavorite photographer, and proud partner in my Angel Bride Group)stepped in and photographed the big event - amazing shots as always

Angel Bride #3 - April & Josh

I've actually known April since she was in second grade with my oldest daughter Crystal, but hadn't been in contact with her since they were in high school. Crystal had been updating me on how close it was getting to the wedding, and about oh 9 days out or so, Crystal sent me an email that says something to the effect that mom, April needs your help! She's getting married next week and she has NO VENUE or anything for a reception! The person arranging it didn't and now she's got nowhere to go! O-M-G.....a venue in under 10 days? wow okay time to get to work for sure!

Before she ever called me I was sending Crystal links to as many venues as possible -not knowing what kind of budget she had or didn't have, I just kept it as inexpensive as I could. The second or third one I sent she loved, the price was great and it was available - so they booked it! YAHOOO!!!

Met with April and her FMIL (Future Mother-in-law for the non wedding-ese speakers reading this) the Sunday before the wedding. Talked about what they had, didn't have, what they wanted to see happen. She just wanted something nice - we talked about what colors she wanted (red/white/silver) - okay, I've got that I said - I didn't have white linens, but knew I could make them easily....speak it into existance, right? We talked about menu - I made a phone call to my dear friend and favorite caterer, Kitty and got a menu put together for them at a price they jumped at! And in a matter of an hour we had their reception planned. Now to pull it all together.

Another friend of the girls', Sarah made the wedding cake (which was simply stated, AMAZING) and came to pick up my just ordered and received Silver plated cake stand that I just love! The week went by fairly smoothly, I began cutting the white fabric like it was nothing, clearly I didn't realize how long sewing 15 linens would take.... note to self: it's not like sewing a napkin!

We started sewing Friday night, working like a mad woman making these white linens and red runners! Five broken needles and a minor meltdown came my way Saturday late morning when I realized that OMG I'm running out of time (things clients never realize we go through) but we got them done - by 2 pm! what was the problem? lol

Come to find out that we can't get IN to start setting up until 6pm. Really? the reception starts at oh 6:30!!! So out goes the texting, rallying the troops, and lots of them! Up pulls a team of 10 volunteers! no kidding! there were 10 of them! Jesseca, Jean, Erin, Courtnea, Kelly, Kaysie, Tom, John, Crys, Kortney and Greg. My newest acquaintance, Michelle brought along many of her amazing value priced ecoutrements to add some amazing shine, shimmer, and elegance to the night! Kitty arrived with her food, and thankfully the young attendant opened the doors 4 minutes early for us! 27 minutes later we transformed the once empty room into a warm, welcoming, candle lit, twinkle light filled reception room! The bride and groom arrived right on time, the doors were opened and an evening of memories and love took place!

Come time for clean up, some of the volunteers returned, but my most ardent (not so much a volunteer, more like volunteered) supporter arrived. My very own big red dog in his big red truck came to help load everything up and rescue his by now very tired wife. I have many members that make up support team, but only one that supports my soul - my husband of almost 20 years, Cliff. He pulls up and says, rest babe - I got this. You did your work, let me help you. And so he does - he loads my 'stuff' so quickly and efficiently it amazes me everytime.

Our team of volunteers are what makes this whole Pay it Forward thing possible - we'd never be able to do this if we had to pay staff members. Our volunteers are our friends, our family members, our past brides and grooms, and even some of our future brides and grooms! Kortney? she wasn't getting married until February 20th and this was December 5th! She even brought in her friend Greg! A huge thanks for all of our volunteer dream makers!

The Evolution of the Fairy GodMothers Closet

Once all the dust settled from Kerrys wedding, the cameras were no longer around and life just went suddenly back to normal - we had all this 'stuff' that had been donated for the wedding. We had gowns, candles, linens, candles, vases, candles, and oh yes, we had a few choices for, yes you guessed it - candles!

We had a bride who got married just 2 weeks before Kerry who literally loaned us her entire reception if we wanted it. We returned her stuff to her, but told her if she decided to sell it to please let us know so we had first dibs at buying it and shared our vision for moving forward - pretty simple we thought.... build up a resource where brides could go to rent or borrow basics at little or no cost - so that no one ever had to go without again.

Kerry eventually moved on to other things, but has always been incredibly supportive. The other bride Toni joined forces with me for a short period of time before life happened, and ultimately sold me her items for an amazing price. I frequently scoured craigslist for brides wanting to get rid of leftover items they'd purchased and snatched it up with a devlish grin, knowing that 'someone' would want this!

Our goal was to be able to provide basic items - to date we have floor length linens in four different colors, overlays in 10 different colors, chair sashes and covers, gowns, glassware you name it! We started getting word out about what we had, telling people that they can rent it for literally pennies on the dollar and if they just had no money, they could simply borrow it - check it out like a library book - the cost? Add something to it when they bring it back. As the concept caught, on we had more 'stuff' than we knew what to do with it. One shelf quickly became one Unit, then two, four - and we had to put it somewhere.

Along came the most amazing, quaint little office. (the Closet)!!

525 square feet of magic we call it. Seemed big when we moved in November 1st - six months later we have grown so much we are rearranging and the once conference room is now the storage room and the once storage room is now my office. As this amazing pay it forward movement continues, I see needing more space! Already told the landlord that I want the next office over that connects with mine - that will definitely get us through a few more years! Only problem is that it's still occupied =D