Running of the Brides: Its back!

If you don't mind racing and probably fighting for the deal and wedding dress of a lifetime....then you need to be here.

Filene's Basement World Famous Running of the Brides
Over 2500 fabulous gowns at prices you can afford
Where: Cities Nationwide

Coming to Union Square, NY Friday, February 27 8AM-10PM

For more information and to see when this event happens in your city go to
FILENE's BASEMENT

I Scream, You Scream, We all scream for ICE CREAM!

Ice Cream Cakes
Are you an ice-cream lover?
If you are a bride that does not wish to do the traditional cake at your wedding, then you will be happy with this idea. Why not get an ice-cream cake?
This would be the perfect approach for a summer wedding, but lets face it, people eat ice-cream all year round. While you wouldn't get to display for hours, just think of how this unique approach will leave your guests talking.
You would have approximately 30 minutes to display the cake, take pictures, do the cake cutting ceremony and serve your guests before it starts melting.



Ice-cream Displays
If you wanted to stick to your traditional cake, but still have ice-cream at your wedding.....you could try an ice-cream display instead.
Many companies, like Baskin Robbins, will actually cater your event. They will even come with servers and display all your favorite ice-cream flavors.
Who doesn't love ice-cream?


Image 1 from Here
Image 2 from Here

Traditions: : The Chuppah

The chuppah is a canopy traditionally used in Jewish weddings.It consists of a cloth or sheet stretched and supported over four poles.
The chuppah represents the home that the couple will build together. The covering of the chuppah represents the presence of God over the covenant of the marriage.

How or where the chuppah is set up may often differ depending on whether the congregation is Orthodox, Conservative or Reform and whether the customs are Ashkenazi and Sephardic. The custom may require the chuppah to be "roofed" or be set up under open sky.

In modern trends, a chuppah can be made from any material and are even being used in non-Jewish ceremonies. It is often customized/personalized to suit the couple's needs. It can be as simple as having attendants hold the four poles or something more ornate and having a lot of fabric and flowers. Here are a few of some of the more trendy chuppahs used today:






Images 1 & 2 from HERE
Images 3 & 4 from HERE

Venue Spotlight: Cavo

So this weekend I made a last minute decision to go out and celebrate a friend's birthday. We went to Cavo in Astoria, Queens. I had no regrets. This bar/restaurant/lounge, made for an awesome night on the town.

Cavo is not just perfect for a nice romantic dinner or night out with friends, it is also a great place for a groovy bride to have her wedding.

Its unique double level dining room, tasty Greek menu and outdoor dining (during the summer), makes it a hang out spot for the young and the young at heart.

The food was fabulous!

Here are a few pictures, but they do no justice. For more details about Cavo, check out their WEBSITE.

The Wedding of the Year (TWOTY)

The Wedding of the Year (TWOTY), is a wedding celebration with a twist. It is a mock wedding ceremony, followed by a reception organized by our friends over at LIW.
It is a great time to meet people, share experiences and get ideas for your wedding.
This year, tickets for TWOTY sold out in record time. The brides love it because they get to see their vendors in action and vendors love it because they get to showcase their work.

For more information about TWOTY, go HERE.

This year's TWOTY took on a beach theme. I had the pleasure of making the programs and the unity candle. Here are a few pics:

The Programs


The Programs (Inside)


The Unity Candle

Showing Love to the Husband-to-Be:: Facials & Massages

I apologize for my absence yesterday, but I am back today in full swing.

I promised you a five part series of "Showing Love to the Husband-to-be", so we will continue today. Since I did not post yesterday, I have combined parts 4 and 5 into one post. Hope you found this series helpful and you suggest one of these relaxing treatments to your husband-to-be.


Facials

Have your husband-to-be glowing on the day of the wedding by letting him get a facial.
However, have him stay away from any deep cleansing facials, peals or extractions that could lead to irritation or redness.

Your groom won't know how his face will react to facials unless he gets them on a regular basis (and most don't). So just go with a relaxing 1/2 hour facial that uses steam mild cleanser and toner and moisturizer.


Massages


A massage is one of the best ways to relax and unwind. Have the husband-to-be get a gentle massage instead of a deep tissue or sports kneading treatment. A deep tissue massage or sports kneading treatment could leave him sore (the last thing you need to happen).

Get your groom groomed before the big wedding day.

Tagged: I am it!

I was tagged twice by Natasha of Flair Factor and Landra of Eventistas. So I will share the luv.

Honorees please follow these instructions and share the LUV!
1. Put the logo on your blog or post. (You can highlight the photo and text of this post and copy/paste wherever you need to...start your highlight from the bottom up to get the photo)
2. Nominate at least 10 blogs which show GREAT ATTITUDE and/or GRATITUDE
3. Be sure to link to your nominees within your post.
4. Let them know that they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Share the love and link to this post and to the person from whom you received the award.

My Picks:

For your Event
Couture Events by D
Glitzy Events
The wedding Memoirs
Exquisite Invitation
Three Galas Design
The Notebook
Lucky Me
Wedding Fresh
Sweet Cakes By Melissa
Starlicious

Pass on the luv!

Showing Love to the Husband-to-Be:: Nails?

Photographers always get a picture of the ring exchange. What will this mean? Yes, you guessed right....close up of the hands. It would be a great idea to have your husband-to-be get a manicure.

Try taking him to your regular salon. If he is totally opposed to this (which sometimes they are), maybe you could do it for him.

Soak his fingers in warm suds, cut his cuticles, clip his nails and file. No need to polish his nails, but definitely buff them.

Our New President

He promises to go straight to work today. We wish him all the best. He has a lot of work to do.

Showing Love to the Husband-to-Be:: Clean Cuts

We all know how important the groom's haircut is. The reality is, the groom is in the spotlight just as much as the bride. Shouldn't he look his best too?

Have the husbands-to-be get a trim months before the big day and see how long it takes to grow back to the point that you both like. Get the correct timing down so you know how close to the wedding date he should get his cut.

The groom should never get a totally new look just days before the wedding because if he hates it, there is nothing that can be done about it at that time.

Showing Love to the Husband-to-Be:: A Good Shave

Ladies, have you every stopped to think that your husband-to-be might want the same pre-wedding pampering that you will receive? This week's blog posts are dedicated to all the husbands-to-be.

A Good Shave
We know that he can give himself a shave, but letting his barber do it can leave his skin looking and feeling even better than it normally does.

Let the shave start by placing a hot towel on the face. The moisture and heat will open the pores and soften facial hair to allow for a closer shave.
The barber should then apply a pre-shave oil and shaving cream. After applying the pre-shave creams, the barber will use his straight edge razor on the cheeks and a safety razor on areas where there could be irritation (like around the lips).
Finally, finish up with a cool towel and after-shave.

This may sound a little over the top for your groom (it is definitely not an everyday thing), but having a professional do a good shave will make for an even better look on the wedding day.

UWIB Giveaway (for business owners)

The wonderful women over at Unique Women in Business are giving away a free advertising spot on their blog. For more details on how to win GO HERE

Winner of the SW Mag Giveaway

So I posted a giveaway yesterday (see details here) and Kim and Jasmin were the only brave ones to enter. Since I am feeling generous, both ladies will receive a copy of the SW Magazine.
Ladies, I am ordering another copy.I know both your addresses so I will forward the magazines as soon as I receive them. Thanks for participating.

To all the other readers that did not participate (I know you exist), stay tuned for the next giveaway.

SW Magazine GIVEAWAY!

Many of us look to the ladies at SW for daily inspiration. They have launched their new magazine and like everyone else, I wanted to see what it was all about. I ordered 2 copies yesterday; one for myself and the other copy....... could be yours.

How can you win?
Just leave a comment and tell me who is your favorite celebrity couple and the
SW Magazine could be yours.
You have until midnight tonight(EST)January 15 to enter.

The winner will be announced tomorrow.

What's in your cake?

Whether you choose traditional or modern batter with icing design, you should know your cake. The little dictionary below may help you to choose the appropriate batter for your wedding cake.

Buttercream
This is rich and creamy; can be easily colored. It is used for fancy decorations; not recommended for outdoor weddings.

Fondant
This is smooth and stiff; made with gelatin and corn syrup. It does not require refrigeration and looks great when decorated with marzipan fruits, gum paste flowers, or just a ribbon.

Dragees
These are hard little sugar balls; painted with edible gold or silver paint.

Ganache
This is a heavy dark chocolate and heavy cream combo. It can be poured over cakes for a glass-like finish or used as filling.

Gum Paste
This is made with gelatin, cornstarch and sugar. It does not fall apart or decompose and makes the most realistic and edible decorations.

Pulled Sugar
Creates beautiful designs like roses and bows, it can look like silk or satin. Pulled sugar comes from boiling sugar, water and corn syrup.

Marzipan
This is Italian almond paste; molded into decorative flowers, brightly colored and sugary and can be used as icing.

Royal Icing
This is a mix of confectioner's sugar, milk or egg whites. It is used for decorative dots and lattice. The finish is white, shiny and hard and does not require refrigeration.

Now that you are aware of what all this means. You can go to your pastry chef as an educated consumer :)

(Credit:Cake by Jon Rendle)

Premarital Counseling

Premarital counseling is not usually priority on the list of things to do before marriage (unless it is a prerequisite). Why isn't this given priority?
With the divorce rate in the U.S. being over 50%, why shouldn't premarital education be one of the first things couples consider.
Would it be so wrong to learn how to be better at communicating with each other?

A third-party can help you sort out issues that you should know about each other before you get married:
Where will you live?
Who will handle the finances?
Do you both want children? How many?
If you do have children-how will you raise them?
These are the little things that sometimes go unmentioned because one partner assumes that the other wants one thing, when they don't.

If you can spend months (years for some people) planning a wedding, then weeks of counseling should not be a burden.
Many churches offer premarital counseling and for many, like the Catholic Church, has its "Preparation for Marriage" (which is a prerequisite).
If you are not religious, you don't have to rule out counseling. You can seek out premarital education programs that are not religiously affiliated.

Marriage is a lifetime commitment and there is nothing wrong with getting some help on how to make it work. If you haven't considered premarital counseling, I hope you will after reading this.

Personal Wedding Websites

Everyone seems to be on the world wide web nowadays. One way to keep all your guests informed is to create a personal wedding website. A personal wedding website will allow you to share wedding details with your guests and it will also serve as a journal of all your wedding memories.

Some of the many features that a personal wedding website offers:

*Your site won't expire-you can even keep updating after you are married.
*They allow you to add photo albums and slideshows
*They give you a guest book for your guests to leave special wishes.
*They come with an activity feed that automatically updates with facebook and lets guests subscribe to updates.
*They allow you to keep track of RSVPs
*They give you unlimited pages
*You can pick a custom theme to your site
*Gives you a view counter
*Gives you a password protection-if you need to limit access.

Some of the more popular sites that allow you to build a personal website from scratch: theknot, momentville, ewedding and weddingwire, just to name a few.

If you haven't already built a personal wedding website, what are you waiting for? The best part of it all, most of them are FREE.

Wedding Flowers:: Gerber

Flowers are an added necessity at weddings. For many brides, her choice for flowers might be one of the most important decisions she makes. This can be a hard decision to make because of the huge variety to choose from. We plan to feature some of the most popular wedding flowers and some of your favorites. Today, our spotlight is on the Gerber.

Did you know that this beautiful flower was discovered back in 1884 in South Africa by Scotsman Robert Jameson? The scientific name (Gerber Jamesonii) recollects the name of its founder and the meaning of its common name draws from German naturalist, Traugott Gerber.

The bold and striking appearance of the Gerbera has made it the most highly prized in the daisy variety. The Gerbera is available in many colors and is said to convey the meaning of innocence, purity and cheerfulness. It ranks as the fifth most popular flower in the world.

Will you choose the Gerber Daisy?

Traditions:: The Rose Ceremony

This is a simple yet meaningful ceremony that involves the bride and the groom exchanging roses. The bride and groom exchange two red roses, symbolizing the giving and receiving of their love for each other throughout their entire marriage.

The rose also conveys how to use the rose and its symbolism in difficult times of the marriage.

During the rose ceremony, your officiant may say something like this:

"In the past, the rose was considered a symbol of love and a single rose always meant only one thing-it meant the words I LOVE YOU. So it is appropriate that your first gift as husband and wife be a single rose...."

Other variations of the rose ceremony may include the husband and wife giving the roses to their mothers after they have exchanged with each other.

SAMPLE SALE!

If you are still looking for a wedding gown and don't want to break the bank, then you are in luck.
Its that time of year again when RK Bridal has their semi-annual sample sale.

When? Jan 11, 2009

RK Bridal
318 W 39th Street
New York, NY

Visit their WEBSITE for more details

Eco-friendly Wedding Ideas-Think Green

Your wedding usually reflects your personal style. If both bride and groom to be are committed to the environment, they can make their wedding as eco-friendly as possible. How can you make you wedding eco-friendly? Here are just a few ideas:

1) Your ring:
Being an eco-friendly bride doesn't mean you have to give up your diamond. However, if you don't choose a vintage ring and decide to go with a diamond, make sure your diamond is "conflict free".

2) Your dress:
Choose a vintage dress. Better yet, wear the dress your mother or grandmother wore for their wedding (with a few alterations of course). For something more modern, you can have something customized for you. If you do go that route, choose eco-friendly fabrics.

3) Your invitations:
Choose recycled paper invitations. There are some beautiful ones by Carlson Craft. Invitations made from recycled paper can be just as beautiful.




4)Decorations:
Decorate with organically grown flowers (especially ones that are still growing).

5) Your Favors
The most obvious thing to do is...plant a tree. These companies, treesinstead and thetreesremember allow you to plant a tree or grove and then you would be sent a certificate to show such.Also mentioned in this previous post is Plant a Memory, they also allow you to give the gift of a tree.Your guests will love these non-traditional approach and appreciate your love for the environment.

6) Plan an eco-friendly honeymoon.
Go to a resort that is environmentally friendly. You may also avoid flying and stay close to home.

If you need more ideas for planning an eco-friendly wedding, Wenona of Everything Green Weddings has some great ideas.

Honoring Loved Ones

Weddings are a time to be celebrated with your loved ones. If there is a loved one that that has passed on, there are many ways they can be honored at your wedding. Here are a few suggestions:

Memory Candle
You can light a memory candle either before the ceremony or set on a side table at the reception. You and your guests can take a moment to reflect on the memory of the loved one. It will catch everyone's attention and they may even compliment you on your style. These memory candles may even be further personalized with your colors (as shown below).


Bouquet Charms
The bride may opt to get a bouquet charm with the picture of a loved one. This would be attached to her bouquet for all to see. The one shown below is from EXCLUSIVELY WEDDINGS.


Charms for the Groom
This was worn by one of my past clients (Kim & Scott). The groom wore this pin in honor of both his parents. The charm itself is from KIMBRA STUDIOS and the pin is from an etsy seller(eyelinerdiner).


Donations
Make a donation to an organization that means a lot to you or meant a lot to your loved one. Just to name a couple, CANCER SOCIETY or ALZHEIMERS ASSOC.. There are many others out there. Upon making your donation, you can give each guest a scroll/favor card letting them know you did this is lieu of a traditional favor.

Plant a Memory
What better way to have a loved one's memory live on, than by having a "growing memory" in their honor. Plant a Memory offers this unique option.You have the option of giving them actual seedlings or bulbs to take home and plant.



Which one of these options would you incorporate into your wedding?

Vendor Spotlight- A Gift of Poetry

Have you ever wanted to find the perfect gift for someone, but have no idea what to get them? Are you better at writing your thoughts down rather than verbalizing them? A Gift of Poetry is a unique solution that allows you to express your most genuine and heartfelt thoughts through poetry.

How does it work? Details of Order Process
*You contact Allen (owner)and let him know who the recipient is and what occasion the poem is for.
*You can include key messages for him to include.
*Once finalized you then select your presentation. See below for presentation options.



A gift of poetry can be given for any occasion, whether a wedding, birthday, anniversary or "just because". Since your poem is inspired by your own thoughts and feelings, you can be sure that this will be one of a kind. This is especially a great gift to say thank you to your parents or your new spouse on your wedding day.

Visit their WEBSITE for more details.

Holiday Marriage Proposals

December and January are said to account for somewhere around 30% of marriage proposals.I guess we can understand why, since the holidays are times when we think about loved ones and family. Engagement rings make for great Christmas gifts and the occasion is even more special when done among family and friends.


Did you get engaged over the holidays? Leave us a comment, we would love to hear your story!



Credit: Ring shown is from Zales