Need Advice? Need a reccommendation?

The Bridal Babe is here to help. Email me:

TheBridalBabe@gmail.com

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Sweet Endings

For all of my New Jersey and Philadelphia Brides, I just came across a great vendor in this area. It follow the latest trends in Candy Bars for Weddings. She puts a glamorous look into what is a very popular item at weddings.

Check it:
Couture Candy Buffets

Thursday, October 14, 2010

My Own Personal Honeymoon

Hello Bridal Babes!

I've been on a slight "Honeymoon" with my blog and I apologize. Life can certainly keep you busy!

Honeymoon registries have risen in popularity. Many couples are getting married later in life and/or have lived with each other so long that they have accumulated many items they would normally register for in a traditional registry. Honeymoon Registries can help with the expense of airfare, hotel rooms, and experiences. Experiences can incluse a variety of things from couples massages, beach side dinner, tickets to shows, deep sea fishing, and cliff diving. The possibilities are endless.

One Hotel Chain has capitalized on the trend and has developed their own wedding registry for couples staying at their brands, Marriott. Marriott also offers flexibility with their registry. When you purchase a gift for the couple, they actually get a credit towards that gift and if they decide they don’t want the couples massage, they can use the credit towards any of the other available items.

Some countries are even developing their own registries to increase tourism. Aruba is one of those and having spent some time in Aruba, I highly recommend you check it out.

Below is a link of some great Honeymoon registries, be careful however, some registries charge a fee and/or take a percentage of the cash value of the gifts. Do your research and make sure the registry is right for you.

https://www.marriottregistry.com/
http://www.thehoneymoon.com/
http://bridal.aruba.com/
http://www.thebigday.com/
http://www.honeyluna.com/
http://registry.sandals.com/

Monday, August 23, 2010

"Bling" in the New Year

Are you a New Years Eve Wedding?

Many brides get caught up in the champagne and confetti for their New Years Eve weddings. Why not try something different with a little play on words.

"Bling" in the New Year makes for a great little saying and theme to use for your NYE Wedding. It's a great phrase to put on customize napkins, coasters or save the dates.

Of Course, when I think Bling,I think Diamonds and Swarovski Crystal and lots of them. You can get a Diamond Ice Carving or better yet, a luge (a luge is an Ice Carving that has a hole drilled thru it to pour a mixed drinks or alcohol - it's supposed to chill it on it's way down, mostly it's for show and fun). Who wouldn't want to drink of out a huge Diamond!

You can also incorporate the theme with your favors. Some suggestions: Key Rings, Ring Cork topper or Ring Paper weights.. All can be found on Beau Coup

Finally, you can add diamond glitter around the base of your centerpieces or in the vases themselves. Use Swarovski everywhere, Cake Jewelry, Hanging off your centerpieces, Toasting Glasses, on the Bride, etc.

I'm not one to have too much theme in a wedding, however, when it comes to New Years Eve,Diamonds and Swarovski, I say Bling It On!

Cheers!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Winey Wild Women!

This past weekend the New Jersey Garden State Wine Growers Association had a Wine Tasting Festival outdoors in a beautiful vineyard. It had over 20 different vineyards from the Garden State representing their wines and offering tastings of all their brands. For $20 per person, you can taste all the wines you want and even mix some to create your on concoction. I went with three of my best girlfriends and it was an incredibly good time. While we were there we saw a bachelorette party and I thought, what a great idea if you appreciate wine, but don’t like the club scene. These girls were having a great time and the bride was getting so much attention from all types of people congratulating her, taking photos, toasting to her. It was such a great idea I had to share it with my Bridal Babes!

The association holds a few of these each year. Visit their website to see dates and locations.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Casting Call

For those who dare to put your love life on air for the chance to have a dream wedding. VH1 is casting for a new Competition Wedding TV Show "Wedding Wars". Couples will compete in a variety of different challenges to win their dream wedding.


Good Luck! I'll be watching.

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Cupcake Swirl

I came across this fabulous shop on the internet. It’s all about being sweet, chic, and unique.

Cupcake are the biggest rage right now with weddings. Instead of doing a traditional tiered cake, cupcake “cakes” are in. Many brides decide on different flavors and decorations to add character and depth. The top, however, is usually still a 6-9 inch cake (to save for your 1 year anniversary).

Cupcake Swirl offers cupcake kits for bridal showers which I absolutely love. Each kit decorates 24 cupcakes. This is a great store to forward on to your maid of honor. Your bridesmaids can have a cupcake making party (really, who can mess up cupcakes). These will make your shower incredibly adorable and your guests will simply freak out over how cute of an idea it is without the big expense of a bridal shower cake.

You have to check out their aprons – Love them! They would make a great gift for a Bride to Be! Have her looking sexy in the kitchen while she whips up some deliciousness for her man.

Happy Baking!

Monday, July 26, 2010

Where the Wild Things Are.

Shop Wild Things is an amazing website that has incredible event décor. Many of their products are used on TV and high end Celebrity events. I don’t know where they find their products, but they have a great eye for the fabulous.

Their String curtains are amazing; you can use them to separate a section of the ballroom for lounge seating. Your guests can feel as if their in a chic lounge, but still be able to see the action.

The butterfly garland would look gorgeous draped around a floral centerpiece or hanging from your bridal bouquet.

Hang the beaded chandeliers outside along your ceremony path or a few from a large tree that may be used as a seating area.

You must check out their 4 foot bendable trees. These make for glamorous table centerpieces, especially in the winter when all that sparkles is popular.

The beaded curtains have many uses. They be cut and used to accent your centerpieces, similar to the gold tree image above or around floral centerpieces. They can be used to accent your alter or aisle (draping them as you would chiffon). Or as a backdrop for a photobooth.

Many of their products can also be used for home décor, they have these beautiful butterfly chandeliers that would be perfect in a little baby girls nursery.

Look around this wonderful site and get inspired, be creative and have fun.

I am always looking for great websites for wedding and event decor. Please feel free to send me your favorite websites.

Happy Shopping!

Monday, July 19, 2010

Lights, Camera Action!

I love a great wedding video and if you are going to invest in one, then do it right. Cinema Cake offers Hollywood Feature Film style editing. I first came across this company at an industry event in Philadelphia and I have to tell you they have not let me down. I love the cinematography. They offer same day edits which can be viewed during the wedding reception – a great idea to entertain those who won’t dance or drink.

Take notice of the Ceremony and interview voice overs that they use during their B-Roll (for those of you not in the industry - B-Roll is the extra shots of the city, venue, decor, etc..)

When choosing your video production team, ask for at least three different weddings videos to view. This will give you a great gauge of their work. Also, think about your favorite movies and what you like best about them, then talk to your video team and ask if they can do the filming and editing in a similar style (within reason - I'm sure you don't have a Hollywood budget)

Good luck!

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Bridal Canvas

I recently came across a fabulous website for my bridal babes. Bridal Canvas is a fun website that lets you pull together images and music on a “canvas” that you can share on your facebook, twitter, or blog. Check it out.





You can also bring this to life by purchasing a large picture frame or cork board and printing out your photos and pasting them on. Add texture by adding other elements that are included in your wedding. Have this be a work in progress, as you find elements that you want included in your wedding add them to the board. After the wedding it will make for a great way to reminisce about your wedding planning days.

Friday, June 25, 2010

Light On!



I can’t stress enough how important lighting is to any event - especially a wedding.

You can spend countless dollars minor details like disposable cameras, bathrooms baskets, ice carvings, etc… but nothing will ever compare to what lighting can do for an event. Lighting can transform a dull, bland room into a warm, inviting and exciting space. It has a big impact your guest’s mood. Have you ever gone into a ceremony space that was dimly lit, with candles everywhere and soft amber lighting surrounding the space. How do you think that makes you feel? Did you feel the romance? Lighting brings feelings to life.





I once did a ceremony room for a winter wonderland and used shades of blue to give you that winter sky effect. Without the blue lighting, it would have been a white snowy room, the blue gave the room just a touch of texture.



Lighting can also be a reflection of your personality. I once had a bride that was bigger than life. She was bubbly and loved pink. When you stepped into her wedding room, you knew right away who’s wedding it was and the feeling from the guest the entire night was that of the brides personality.



When planning your wedding, lighting should be something you include in your budget from the beginning. Set aside a minimum $500 and go from there. If budget is tight, sacrifice some of those minor details that no one will remember, you will be surprised at how easily those minor details quickly add up.



If your venue does not offer lighting, you can find local vendors that specialize in all things bright and beautiful: I recommend Synergetic Lighting and Sounds.

Monday, June 21, 2010

The Littlest Bridesmaid

Flower Girls add a sense of youth, excitement and fun to a wedding ceremony. I absolutely love when the flower girl precedes the bride. It sends an image of a little girl imagining her wedding day, and when the bride comes out, there is that little girl all grown up.

There are so many gifts to give your flower girls, but one of my favorites is something custom as you would for yourself (the bride). A great idea is a custom headpiece for the flower girl. It doesn’t need to be extravagant, it can be whimsical, like a few little butterflies in her hair, or something young (yet dramatic) like a flower with a feather. You can do something that the little girl loves, like Hello Kitty barrettes. I guarantee the flower girl will love the extra touch and probably will wear it long after the wedding.

I have a friend that does awesome hair accessories for little girls. She is truly talented and I have never seen anything for little girls like what she makes. All of her items are Hand-Made and Absolutely Adorable. If you really want something unique and something your flower girl will love, check out this website and some of her wonderful work (my favorites):
Baby Bows and More











Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Top 6 Contracting Rules

When it comes to choosing your venue, the choices can be very overwhelming, especially because each venue offers so many varieties of services. Having been a Catering Manager for many years, I can tell you the top 6 tips when negotiating your venue contract.

1. Know your Budget: Having this number in your head will set a cap on what you want to spend and will also help you see what each venue is offering you for the same amount of money.

2. Disclose the Competition’s Secrets: Don’t be afraid to tell each venue what their competition is offering you, sometimes, they will be able to offer you the same or something comparable. It will also make them eager to win your business over the competition.

3. Tell Them Everything You Want Up Front: If you disclose your interest in additional upgrades (linen/char rentals, lighting enhancements, ice carvings, bar enhancements, etc.), they see dollar signs, and many times, because you are looking to spend, you can negotiate these prices up front, while you still have negotiating power. You don not want to commit to these items now, you want the option, and each price detailed on the contract.

4. Cancellation: Hopefully you won’t have to deal with it, but just in case, you want to read their cancellation clause and ask for any variation of the following clause: “In the event of cancellation 90 days or greater from the wedding date, should the venue be able to re-sell the date to any type of event, the venue agrees to refund deposit monies commensurate with the total spend of the new booking” In other words, if the new booking is spending the same or less than your guaranteed minimum, the venue agrees to give you the difference of the two numbers. Within 90 days is tough for any venue to resell to any type of event, but definitely ask for less time.

5. Know What You Are Committing To: Minimum Revenue Guarantees are a promise you make to the venue that guarantees a certain amount of money that you will spend with them. NEVER commit to a head count, commit to a DOLLAR amount. The head count should be due no sooner than two weeks prior, but try to negotiate up to 72 hours prior, trust me the guest count still changes this close in. Some Venues will only include the Food and Beverage in their Minimum Revenue Guarantee, others will include anything purchased thru them (linen, lighting, etc.). Finally, ask that any additional fees also be disclosed on the contract. Such fees include; room rental, staffing fees, additional power for the band, etc. If they say “There are no additional fees”, have them put it in the contract. You want EVERYTHING in writing so that there are no misunderstandings later. This protects both parties. Should they have any issues with putting anything in writing, then you may have to question the integrity of the venue.


6. Get Both Parties Signatures. A contract is not legally binding until both parties have signed. A representative from the venue needs to sign after you to completely execute the agreement. Always ask for a copy of the executed contract – and make sure you have ALL pages, not just the signed page.

Good Luck, and remember you can always email me with any questions on this or other topics.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

My Fair Wedding


I’ve had the privilege of working with David Tutera twice now, and I have to tell you, what a great guy!

If you’ve never heard of him, David Tutera has been in the industry over 20years and has planned events for A-list celebrities like, Barbara Walters, Starr Jones, Oprah, Jennifer Lopez, and so many more. He is truly talented and has become a leading expert in all things wedding and special events!

Last year, David premiered a great new TV show called My Fair Wedding on WeTV. He takes an ordinary bride with a modest budget and transforms her wedding day into a Platinum affair - all complimentary! He is really making dreams come true!

Season 2 just began this past Sunday with a Casino themed wedding and this next episode on June 13th features The Courtyard Philadelphia Downtown by Marriott. A hidden gem in Center City Philadelphia! Wait until you see what wonderful things David did for this bride!

Aires Every Sunday 10pm EST.

Monday, June 7, 2010

The Brides New Best Friend

I had come across a great resource years ago for Brides called The Bridal Bar. This boutique shop can be found in Los Angeles, San Diego and Atlanta (hopefully more will pop up near your area). The flagship store in LA opened over 6 years ago and has helped A-list celebrities like Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Katherine Heigel, and more plan their weddings.

The concept is unique: They help Brides plan their wedding for free. As a bride you are offered champagne, and have all the wedding resources available to you in one area. They have books, videos, photos, and expert advice all at your fingertips and in a chic setting. The girls help you with all of your questions and guide you towards the best vendors in the industry. It’s an incredible idea and a bride’s best friend.

Friday, June 4, 2010

More Bling for your Buck?

Most likely you bridal babes already have the Bling on your finger, but you may have a friend (or their boyfriend) that would be interested in this entry.

A colleague of mine asked me yesterday; “what is the standard rule for spending money on an engagement ring?”

I’ve heard many times that the formula was 1½ times their monthly salary (before taxes). In doing my research, I came across several articles that suggested up to four months of yearly salary. Now I’m not one to knock the four month rule, but it does seems a bit much. If your man wants to spend that much on your ring, then let him!

Let’s put this in perspective:

If his yearly salary is $50K divide that by 52 weeks = $962 weekly, then multiply by 6 weeks (1½ months worth) = $5,772 allowance for a ring. Now what kind of ring can you get with $5,772?

Ring # 1:


The total carat weight of diamonds for this ring is 1.09.
Diamond: Very Good-cut, F-color, VS1-clarity, Princess Cut, 1.09-carat Diamond.
$5,054

Setting: Comfort-Fit Ring in Platinum (2.5mm).
$800

Total for Ring # 1: $5,854
*********************************************************************************
Ring #2:
The total carat weight of diamonds for this ring is 1.74.

Center Diamond: Very Good-cut, G-color, VS2-clarity, Radiant Cut, 0.90-carat Diamond. $3,322


Setting: Triad Pavé Diamond Ring in 18k White Gold. $1,950

Total for Ring #2: $5,272 ********************************************************************************
So Ring #1 gives you a much better quality Diamond and bigger size, where ring #2 gives you more total weight, but lesser quality diamonds.

Either way, it’s not about the ring, it’s about the man and how happy he makes you. If you really want to see what you can get for your money, go to Blue Nile. You can build your own ring and be educated on everything Bling!

Cheers!

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Aisle Do!

For a sophisticated Aisle Runner, turn to the Fabric Supply Stores. They sell fabric by the yard and have thousands of styles, colors, textures and prints available. Look online at Joann Fabrics and under home décor for thousands of options.

First, find out how long your Aisle will be. Contact the church or venue to get the exact measurements. The start point is 1 foot from the alter, and 1 yard past the last row of chairs. Most aisles average 50 feet, but before purchasing, make sure you confirm the exact measurements. Also, confirm there is an alternate path for the guests to seat themselves other than the center aisle. If not, then you will have to have the aisle runner dropped after all the guests are seated (or before the bride).

Next, find a fabulous print that works with the theme of your wedding. If you’re going with a solid, consider a great textured fabric. Also ask the store if they have any additional cardboard rolls in the back they were going to toss, you can use this later to store your finished aisle runner. If not, you can go to Home Depot and have them cut a PVC pipe to size. Make sure you also pick up sturdy rope that goes through the center pipe that won’t snap while being unrolled.

Now that you have this gorgeous fabric, let’s perfect it. Make sure there are no frayed edges. If there are, you can easily fold over the fabric and run it thru a sewing machine. If sewing makes you nervous you can purchase
Steam a Seam. All you will need to know is how to fold fabric and work an iron. Of course, Iron or steam (depending on the fabric) your runner a few days prior and roll properly onto the pipe so as to not add wrinkles or creases.

Your florist will typically do the rest (at a small nominal labor fee). If you have family assisting, ask them to secure the runner on the floor with
Matching Duct Tape (comes in all colors online). Do not tape the entire runner, just in sections so that it is still not very noticeable. At each end you will however need to secure the entire width to prevent heels snagging.

Finally, Tie off the aisle with a matching ribbon so that the guests avoid walking on the aisle runner. If you are dropping the aisle runner during the ceremony, I recommend doing a practice run at rehearsal.

Never, Ever, Ever, do an Aisle Runner on Grass! It’s dangerous and does not look good.
Also think twice about an aisle runner outside. To many uncontrollable elements to worry about

Happy Trails!

Monday, May 31, 2010

The Non-Wedding Dresses

For many of you Bridal Babes, one of the biggest focal points of your wedding, is your wedding dress. Many of us are so wrapped into the perfect dress that we forget to add a little fun and flirtyness to our wedding by considering our wardrobe pre and post wedding. Don’t forget, the Wedding is an entire weekend and you and your groom are in the spotlight for more than a day. So once you’ve landed the perfect wedding dress and figured out your wedding style, start shopping for a rehearsal dinner dress and an after the wedding party dress.

These two dresses should be comfortable and suiting to your personality. My suggestion for rehearsal is to incorporate your bridesmaid dress color or style into that dress. Cohesion may only be noticed by the bridal party and mothers, but you will love the feeling of dropping “hints” prior to the wedding. You may even see a light bulb go off on a few people the day of the wedding when they realize a day late the hints you dropped.

For after the wedding, you may be meeting at a local favorite pub, bar or nightclub – DO NOT WEAR YOUR WEDDING DRESS TO THESE PLACES. I don’t care how much you love your dress, these are not places to show up in your wedding dress. Instead find a cute white alternate that is appropriate for where you’re heading after, trust me you will still feel like a bride, be more comfortable and avoid strange looks.

So what about the groom? There’s not much to do attire wise with him, but possible use his tie at the rehearsal dinner to drop a hint. Don’t make him feel obligated to wear anything. You want him to feel comfortable too. If he is willing, then go with it. For after the wedding, he definitely needs to change out of his tux and into something more appropriate for wherever you decide to head after. Leave this up to him, again, unless he’s into it, don’t force him to wear anything he doesn’t want to, it’s his day too and you both want to feel comfortable and happy.

cheers!

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Welcome To Our Wedding

Many brides and grooms decide to welcome their out of town guests with a welcome bag at their hotel. It is a nice added touch and an extra special thank you for those guests whose journey entails a bit more investment in your wedding.

Check with your hotel first before you make any purchases to make sure that they allow the bags (which most hotels will), and how they will distribute them. Some hotels will require that the bags be delivered to each room due to lack of storage near the front desk area. Others will allow the front desk agents to distribute them upon check in. Either way, your bags will be much appreciated by your guests. Also ask the hotel if they charge for this service and if there are any restrictions on what may be in the bag. You’ll find most have a nominal fee which ranges from $2-$4 per bag which typically serves as a gratuity to the persons delivering the bags.

Must have items in the bags:
** Bottled Water (at least one per person)
** Salty Snack Bags like chips, popcorn, or nuts
** Something Sweet like mints, gum, pastries, or candy
**Tylenol – They may need it the morning, buy them individually packaged
** Thank You Letter – Remember, they are investing a little bit more in your wedding, gratitude goes a long way
**Directions to the Church and Reception (if not at the hotel), include a phone number for a day of contact (someone not in the wedding party) that can serve as a point of contact in case they get lost.

The rest is up to your budget and style. Be creative when choosing your items. Keep them in line with your wedding location and theme. Also, if there are local favorites or bride and groom favorites, put them in there. Periodically, I’ll put together different guest bag ideas to the blog so keep checking!

-kisses

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

The B Word

Budget!

I can’t stress enough how important setting a budget for your wedding is. It saves you so much time and anxiety.

To start, ask your family members what their contributions will be to the wedding. This may feel a bit awkward to you, but it is a needed question to ask. Many brides and grooms are picking up a majority of their wedding costs, so finding out if any family members want to contribute is important..

Once you have your budget figured out, then you can start prioritizing. You’ll find many websites that offer great guides to what percentages to allocate to each vendor. They are a great start, but if you must have only the finest food and beverage, or the best photographer, then you may need to shift funds from another source.

Once you have your magic numbers then you can make your appointments. In your initial phone call, don’t be afraid to mention the number you allocated to that particular vendor, I would even go in a couple percentages less to give you bargaining power. Try to get a lot of your important questions done over the phone. Save yourself much needed time. Then if you feel comfortable set the appointment to meet in person. The rest is up to you.

When it comes to a budget, you don’t have to stick to each number allocated, of course you can adjust, but setting a budget helps you to keep things in line and will make you feel more comfortable in your choices and cause you much less stress.

Good Luck!

Monday, May 24, 2010

Destination Guest List


When working on your guest list for a Destination Wedding, you need to remember that you are asking your guests to pay quite a bit of money to see you exchange vows. Sure, they get a vacation out of it, but it may not have a been a place they wanted to go to. In the end, you have to remember that you should only be inviting guests that are very close to you and that you feel comfortable asking this of them. You can not invite people just because you know they will say no, it’s an awkward position to put on friends and family that you aren’t that close to. You can not go into this thinking that everyone wants to easily blow a couple thousand dollars for a weekend to see you get hitched.

A great way to soften the blow of not inviting guests to the destination wedding is to have a low key party a month or so after your return. This local casual party is a great way to not hurt feelings and bring a sigh of relief the guests that wouldn’t be able to attend the destination. Those who simply can’t afford to go will love knowing that they can make it up to you by coming to this celebration.

So let’s narrow down the guest list:
c Family: Only invite family that you talk to on a regular basis or have close relations with. You may have a 1st cousin that you haven’t talked to in a year and a 3rd cousin that you talk to once a month. It’s not based on the degrees of separation, but by the relationship itself. You may also need to have a sincere talk with your parents as well, if you are footing the bill, you have a lot of say about Uncle Frank who you never talk to, if they are footing the bill, then let them be.
c Friends: You may have 400 Facebook friends, are you going to invite them all? Of course not. Invite Friends that you spend time with regularly. You may have friends that you call every once in a while to catch up, but to ask them to take a trip to see you get hitched will be too much. If a friend should ask why they were not invited to the destination wedding, your out is this; “I did not want you to feel obligated to invest so much in our wedding”. Remember, you have the local celebration as well to make them feel included.
c Work Associates/Friends/Bosses: 99% Never! You may spend a lot of time with these people outside of work, social parties, maybe happy hour, or golfing, but this the key – Do you talk about something related to work at least 75% of the time? if so, it’s a no. Also, how much time have they spent with your significant other? You will be on a vacation with this person and your significant other better like and get along with them, that is not the time for introductions.
c Kids: Many couples want an adult only reception and you must consider that kids may have to be an option. Many people do not have the luxury of being able to leave their children for three days for whatever reason, so this is not the time to have “An Adult Reception” or be upset with someone because they can not afford to bring the entire family. This is where you must be flexible.

Good luck! Remember if you have any doubts, shoot me an email:
TheBridalBabe@gmail.com

xoxoxox

Saturday, May 22, 2010

You Can Definitely Wear this Again!

How many times are you a bridesmaid and you hear “you can use it again after the wedding”. It’s always said, but rarely is that really the case.

If you are really concerned with your bridesmaids being able to reuse their bridesmaid dress for another event, then my suggestion is to skip the traditional Bridesmaid Designers – regardless of how they sell it to you, it always looks like it’s meant for a wedding, and will NEVER be used again.

My suggestion, head to the labels Bridal Babes! So many desingers have great dresses for your girls, and these days, the dresses don’t all have to be the same color or style. Here are few great bridesmaids dressed from some great labels, my only caveat, if you have bridesmaids on the larger size, these designers may not carry their size, so do you research first as to not upset any of your bridesmaids:



Anthropologie

Whimsical and youthful, mostly best suited for a casual spring or summer wedding, but there are some definite great finds for an upscale event.







Guess
Definitely more on the high fashion, thinner build. You may be having your bridesmaids doing sit-ups and lounges the day of the wedding.







JCrew
The buzz has caught on. JCrew does actually have a wedding line. Classic and Timeless Dresses.





Brides, JCrew did not forget you. Victoria, this is for you:


BCBG
Always a great find for high end and fabulous! Don’t be afraid to put your girls in some fabulous prints.








Aidan Mattox
Just recently came across this designer and I’m obsessed. You can find his label at Nordstrom. Your girls will be paying top dollar, but this is definit
ely a dress that will get its money’s worth.

Have fun shopping Babes!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Grooms-zilla

Watch out Brideszilla’s, a new beast is immersing. I have recently seen a big influx of grooms dominating the wedding planning process. I think it’s absolutely adorable when a groom is involved in the wedding day and wants some of his personality included in the wedding. I love weddings that you can see a little of both the bride and groom in the wedding. But be wary of the groom that take’s over. Here are three types to watch for:
He’s a Mama’s Boy: Watch out for this one. They’re not his ideas, they’re his mama’s, and his mama is in his ear giving her very opinionated ideas and shooting down the soon to be daughter in laws ideas. This is dangerous! Warning to my Bridal Babes: Stop this now! This type of mother-in-law is showing her feathers and has always been the matriarch of the family and you are a threat to her. Her son, that once was her precious little boy that always did what mommy said, now has another woman to listen to and confide in. Many times, these mothers don’t even realize what they are doing, so you need to stand your ground now, or you’re in for long life of being pushed aside for mama. A word of caution, do not be rude to the mama, just stand your ground politely and if you need to bring out the big guns, then unleash, da, da, da….Your Mother!!!!!
The second type of groomzilla is: The Man’s Man – this type doesn’t want it to seem as if its whatever the bride says because he’s afraid of his guy friends teasing him that his is already whipped. How do you handle the man’s man? Give him ammunition to fight back his rather “jealous” friends. Now we’ve all heard the “I am comfortable in my manhood, blah, blah, blah. That’s done with. What you need to be telling him, is that if he does this for you, you’ll do something fo him in return, and the rest is up to you. Now Hold on! I know what you’re thinking and maybe that’s the route to go, but, there are other things to offer up, like a weekend getaway with the guys, a day off without chores, a get out of jail free card, etc. If his friends have anything to say, he can offer up that you are such an awesome girl that you have to offer up stuff to get what you want, plus it will make him feel like he’s in the drivers’ seat. When we all really know that we would have done that stuff anyway, so we’ve lost nothing.
Finally, it’s the “it’s my wedding too and I want it to be Awesome!” Groom. This is usually the super creative, trendy guy. He usually seen wearing fedora’s, corduroy, or sporting a 3 o’clock shadow (yes not a 5 but a scruffier version of one). He has to have everything that is out of the box and wants to do everything differently. His favorite saying is “Why Not?” His wedding attire will consist of Van’s, Seersuckers, and an Ascot. He’s a wild beast that’s hard to tame because his mind is usually running all over the place. The only suggestion I have is to whip out the waterworks. This guy is also very sentimental and tears will bring him back to earth. Of course, some of his ideas are probably incredible, and I’ll probably write about them, but don’t let him get out of control. Use your tears and keep your wedding classy.

Cheers and good luck taming the wild beast!

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Attention Bridal Babe Shoppers!


Wedding Belles Boutique in Northfield is having a 3 Day Sale May 20-22.
$150.00 off the purchase of your bridal gown OR FREE Fabulous Necklace and Earring Bridal Set (excludes previous purchases, can not be combined with any other offers. Minimum purchase of $850.00 bridal gown)

Call to make an appointment today! They have an incredible selection and the most wonderful staff.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

The Brides “Maid”

Planning a wedding is super easy, if you know what you’re doing. There are so many elements to a wedding day, that, unless you have plenty of time in your day to research endless pages of articles (and blogs like this one), a wedding planner is a must.

Many venues offer a catering manager/wedding coordinator/event manager with their packages and I’m sure they will be super helpful with planning the details of the dinner reception. Most of them are very talented, but they are only really there to help you with the reception, which is about 50% of the wedding.

A personal wedding planner will offer you emotional support, which most onsite coordinators can not offer you. They are the maid of honor you really wanted – one that can be there to help you with appointments, negotiate deals, and even keep certain family members apart. They are you confidant, and a great wedding planner has a great poker face! No matter what is going on around that day, to you everything is perfect!

They are also part of a community that is constantly networking. They offer you assistance and expertise in choosing the best, most qualified vendors for your big day. They have heard the good and bad about many vendors and can also pick up similar traits to steer you away from the wrong ones.

Hiring a great wedding planner should not be about saving you money. The reason you hire a wedding planner is to make sure you are getting what you paid for. Two totally different things. I'm not saying a wedding planner won't save you money. If you are working with a strict budget, they will guide you in the most cost effective ways to get what you want. A great wedding planner is worth the investment. You have no idea how hard they work for you and their time and presence is invaluable.

If you’re a bride to be and in the Tri-State Area, I have to recommend
Sarah Morrison. I met her while doing a wedding at The Water Club and instantly I knew this girl was phenomenal and she exceeded my expectations which were very high. If you’re in the market for an incredible wedding planner, definitely give her a ring (no pun intended).

Cheers!

My Favor-ites!

A wedding favor should be beautifully packaged and useful for the wedding guests. I love Beau Coup! They have the best choices in wedding favors.

When choosing your wedding favor, don’t go for something your guests are going to leave behind because they “forgot” or dumped it in the trash on the way out. Useless trinkets are a waste of money, I’d rather you make a donation in my name to a charity.




Wine stoppers and coasters are still a great favor. I can’t tell you how I still use mine and remember who’s wedding that came from.






My girlfriend did a destination wedding and gave out luggage tags. Loved it! It perfectly tied into her theme and is a useful favor.







One of my favorite favors was more geared towards the girls (sorry guys, like you really care all that much anyway), it was a diamond paperweight.

You can never go wrong with Edible Favors, especially when you pick something local or sentimental to you and your fiancé. Here is a list of fun edible favors I’ve seen brides and grooms do:

Mini “
White House” Subs and Chips in a Chinese take out container given to the guests on the way out. For those of you not from Atlantic City, White House Subs are local favorite.

Individual
Dunkin Donuts in a custom bag with the couple’s story of how they met – and guess what they met at Dunkin Donuts.

Custom wrapped
Tasty Kakes (A Philly Favorite) – This was cool, they had all different types piled on a table and on the front of each package had a custom label made.





For a Fall wedding, one couple did Gertrude and Hawk chocolate covered apples – This was a hug hit! The only thing that was left behind was the empty wrapper and sticks.



Custom Cookies in the theme of your wedding are also fun, especially because you can get them in all different shapes and colors, but make sure you get them from a great bakery and that their freshly made, I recommend The Flour Pot. They also started a cookie favor table.



And of course, The Candy Bar! Have fun with this, the candy can be prepackaged, youthful, or gourmet. You just want the table to be a fabulous presentation. Be creative with candy color and containers, add floral centerpieces, just make sure the candy is easily accessible. We don’t want any intoxicated guests tipping over a large vase of gourmet chocolates and getting broken glass everywhere. Label your candy, some guests have allergies and will know by your label what they need to stay away from.



Finally the takeaway; Custom Baggies, Chinese take out containers, and custom boxes are all great options, just
make sure they hold a lot! It’s nice to have some boxes already filled for those guests who are too shy fill their own up. Custom labels are also great to easily seal the containers and add a bit more personalization.









xoxoxoxo

Monday, May 17, 2010

Belize.. Take Me Away...

I’m currently helping a friend plan her destination wedding, and I can’t help but to remember almost 6 years ago, my honeymoon. A majority of brides and groom choose Hawaii or Mexico for their honeymoon, which are fabulous locations. My husband and I wanted a location where it was still about us and not the so much the a popular destination where there is so much to do that you are overwhelmed with what to do next.

Your Honeymoon location is crucial because you have spent the last few months (and especially the weeks leading to) planning a dream wedding. Your brain and body has been in overdrive and depending on you and your partner, you may just want to relax and enjoy each other in a beautiful peaceful environment.

We went with
Belize.

Nestled between Mexico and Guatemala on the Caribbean coast of Central America, Belize is one of the few remaining unspoiled places on earth. You won’t see big corporate businesses here, so if you need a McDonald’s or a Marriott, then this is not the place for you. It is rich in culture and kindness. The Belizean people are welcoming and friendly. Also English and Spanish are their primary languages and they take American currency.

We stayed at the Belize Yacht Club
in the city of San Pedro on the Ambergris Caye (and caye is an island), pronounced "key". It was a great one bedroom apartment with a small kitchen and living area. The only reservations we made before coming on this honeymoon was the condo and airfare, everything else we played by ear and it was great. Deciding what we were in the mood to do that day, and when we wanted to do it was great. Belize is not overcrowded, so there were no fears of activities being completely booked. It also helped that we had a personal concierge that helped us plan, book and get the lay of the land while we were there.

So what did we do? We scuba dived the second greatest barrier reef (next to Australia) – oh, Belize is a Scuba Divers dream and you can take classes the first day and out the second if you’ve never done it. We took a day trip back to the mainland and visited the
Altun Ha Mayan Site. We also took a private boat for Deep sea fishing, which was amazing! The two men who took us out did all the hard, disgusting work, while I caught my first 3 foot barracuda. I would have never thought I would have enjoyed that experience, but wow, so much fun and exhilarating. We also snorkeled at the Blue Hole the result of a cave which collapsed centuries ago. That was it. The rest of the days were exploring the land on jacked up golf carts (because there only a very small numbers of cars permitted on the island), lounging by the pool, eating the delicious food and going to local bars and clubs.

When it comes down to choosing your honeymoon location, make it about what the two of you will enjoy the most, taking into considering your personalities and energy. My personal choice is a place that is relaxed and away from what I’m used to seeing, no corporate hotels and restaurants, and a culture rich with beauty a personality. Also, it doesn’t help talking to a few married couples and asking their opinions on their honeymoons. There are so many wonderful places to choose from, do your research and choose wisely.

Bon Voyage!