2012 Color of the Year!

The  Color Gods have spoken and Tangerine Tango is the Pantone Color of 2012!

I am personally a little excited about this color, because I have always loved different variations of orange, but am wondering how it can be incorporated in the wedding circuit. Bridesmaid dresses, flowers, shoes, hair pieces, purses, in tangerine tango would all be a nice way to add a little pop to your wedding colors!

If you are obsessed with learning more about this color (like me) below is the press release!

The 2011 color of the year, PANTONE 18-2120 Honeysuckle, encouraged us to face everyday troubles with verve and vigor. Tangerine Tango, a spirited reddish orange, continues to provide the energy boost we need to recharge and move forward.
“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow, to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”
Over the past several years, orange has grown in popularity and acceptance among designers and consumers alike. A provocative attention-getter, Tangerine Tango is especially appealing in men’s and women’s fashion. Fashion designers featured in the PANTONE Fashion Color Report Spring 2012, including Tommy Hilfiger, Nanette Lepore, Cynthia Steffe by Shaun Kearney, Elie Tahari and Adrienne Vittadini, are incorporating this attractive orange into their spring collections. A fun, lively take on a traditional autumnal hue, Tangerine Tango will surely carry through to fall fashion as well.
A winner in cosmetics because of its versatility, Tangerine Tango is a bit exotic, but in a very friendly, non-threatening way. Add a sultry flair to lips, cheeks and nails with Tangerine Tango. An unexpected eye shadow color, Tangerine Tango is a complementary opposite that flatters blue or green eyes. When paired with brown eyes, it brings out an amber cast.


Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

It's All In the Shoes!!

Megan writes about one of my most favoirte topis: shoes!


Lately I have been noticing a trend in wedding shoes. Last year when my cousin got married she wore sparkly converse shoes, while the men all wore black converses, with red laces (red was her color of choice for her wedding). This is a very cool idea because Converse Shoes are defiantly a fad right now, and we all love comfort on such a long day.

The trend that I have seen on many brides that I love is a colorful shoe. It adds a very bold punch of color that can still be hidden under the dress when necessary. Many brides have opted for a red, pink, or green shoe, to match their bridesmaid dresses or wedding color in general. Other times, a new trend has been for the Bride’s “something blue” to be her shoes. It is fun, flirty, and unexpected. To change the color of your shoes is a small gesture that often times will wow your guests. It is a fun thing for both the men and women within the wedding party to play around with!

Being Creative

Welcome Megan to the wonderful world of blogging at the War Memorial Center. She has become quick to learn the vast arrays of all things weddings!

As a newbie in the world of weddings I have been learning a great amount about all of the behind the scenes that not only goes into planning the wedding, but what is happening on the big day. I enjoy seeing the final product of each ceremony and reception and how different each and every wedding turns out.


Recently one of my very close girlfriends got married. I was able to simply be a guest, which was a change of pace for me seeing as how I began at the end of wedding season. Her and her now husband are both very in love with anything natural and earthy. Her theme was a “woods” theme which I found to be very interesting. When I got the invitation, I thought it was pretty, but was unsure how it would turn out. I had never seen anything like it. Upon arriving to her wedding, which was on her parent’s land, I realized that she was actually getting married in the woods! They had chairs lined up in between the trees and she walked down a grassy isle.

We then walked a little ways through more grass and trees into an outdoor tent for the reception, which was placed very close to their man made pond. Her colors were black and white with accents of a deep red. The most unique part of her whole reception was that she had trees brought in from a nursery and placed throughout the tent to continue her woodsy theme throughout the reception. It was beautiful, very much so like a fairytale. White lights dangled throughout the tent. The word I would use to describe it was enchanting.

Here at the War Memorial shortly after attending this wedding, I worked at a wedding where they did a wine themed wedding. The couple had been dating long distance and would meet places throughout the United States and taste wine together. It was a passion of theirs. Their name cards were wine corks with the names stuck in them. Their center pieces were wine bottles that were colored glass as accents to their reception.

After having a good amount of weddings under my belt, it is interesting to see the weddings that are unique to the couple and their interests. Whether it be you like to travel and have a favorite vacation you took as a couple or a hobby that you like to do together, I think it is important to be creative and give guests something to remember about you as a couple; something to talk about when it comes to your big day!

Zewing Girl! Unique and Amazing Bridesmaid Gifts!

I celebrated one of those significant birthdays earlier this month, and my mom surprised me with having Tracy from Zewing Girl come to her house and had me pick out a homemade gift. I was ecstatic to do this mostly because I had been secretly (okay, maybe not so secretly as I tend to be a bit vocal) coveting my mom’s latest purchase from Zewing Girl. She makes these amazing watches that have interchangeable straps so you can pick a color, pattern, or design for each outfit or mood you may have.



For example, here is the watch I have on today.

 
I also have 3 other colors and patterns of straps to change depending on what I am wearing or in the mood for. But she makes many different kinds!
 

Finding bridesmaid gifts may be one of the more difficult things when planning a wedding. You want to make sure to have something that is unique, beautiful, and fits each of your girls’ personalities. This task may sometime feel impossible. However, I thought that these watches and the other products that Tracy makes would be an amazing and personal gift to give each bridesmaids! This way everyone can have something "the same, but different" and it is something that will be worn all the time. You can also pick out colors and patterns that reflect each of your bridesmaid personalities.  

She also makes other accessories that could  be worn during the wedding, for example, here are some bobby pins and hair ties.

These are just a few of the products that she sews (or zews as her young daughter says). She makes scarves, skirts, lanyards...you name it, she can probably zew it! So, take a look at her website or email her for more information by clicking here.

I am sure you'll love her work just as much as I do!!!!

Bedazzled Pumpkins

I'm embarrassed by how long that it has been since I or someone here has posted something, but I am sure I can come up with a million excuses...however I will just promise to try to do better!

I think I have written this before, but I LOVE FALL. I love all the colors, the smells, the changing of leaves, etc. I think this is the best time of year. I love weddings in October because it is just so beautiful.

I was walking into Metro Market in downtown Milwaukee last week were I went past their floral department. I was admiring the sunflowers and then looked down and there were some bedazzled pumpkins! Now, I am not much of a bling or bedazzle kind of person, but I really like how these were done and thought they would be some great accent pieces or even centerpieces for a fall wedding. The ones at Metro Market had letters bedazzled on them but I found some other pictures as well.  This would be a great, easy, and cheap DIY project!
Enjoy!

Weekend in Review

Hi, it's Katie!

I am just coming back to reality from spending the weekend working four different events. Whew. It was definitely a busy one. We had a prom, a high school jazz fest, a career fair (that Amanda worked) and two weddings. The weather was iffy on and off; it rained a lot and the fog coming off the lake was a little out of control! On Saturday the wedding ceremony was able to be set up outside under the overhang facing the museum. I’d never seen it set up like that, and it was actually really pretty!


Yesterday the weather was beautiful but windy! It was forecasted to rain, and at the last minute the bride decided to move everything onto Fitch Plaza while the sun was shining. I watched the radar carefully, (the meteorologist coming out in me), seeing the thunderstorms moving our way hoping that the weather would hold out until their ceremony was over. And it did, but just barely. I warned our maintenance guy that severe weather was coming and that taking down the outside set up sooner than later might be a good idea. Within minutes of him finishing up, it started thundering and raining. By that time, everyone from the wedding was inside and couldn’t have cared less what the weather was doing!! And I got to watch from the office as lightening struck over the lake.

There were a few unique things that stood out from the weekend, besides the weather, particularly from Sunday’s event. The colors were black, white and lime green. The bridesmaids’ dresses were to die for; v-necked black cocktail dresses with lime green wraps to match. But the bride’s dress was by far the most interesting I have seen in a long time. It was a traditional A-line strapless dress with a train, and a bright white color, but the embroidering was all done in black. It was really quite stunning. Their set up was simple and classy, and I loved their candle centerpieces. But the one thing that really took my breath away was their cake topper, designed to look just like the bride and groom!! Absolutely adorable!

Really cool light up bar the couple rented to use for their buffet!

The cake was really simple, but the topper was amazing!

It looked just like them!! Note they are holding vide game controllers too!

  

Maid of Honor-what an honor!

Hi all, Katie here!
This past weekend one of my best friends, who I have mentioned before because she is planning her wedding, asked me to be her maid of honor. I was actually a little surprised she didn’t ask one of her oldest friends, who is also a bridesmaid, but when she explained she told me that she thought my organizational and planning capabilities would be very helpful to her, and I would probably be doing a lot of that any way. I am very honored to be her maid of honor, and it brought a few tears to my eyes as my heart filled with pride and happiness to be such a big part of her day. As we all get older and move away, it’s difficult to maintain strong relationships with your close friends, and her asking me to be so involved her in her big day made me feel like I am important to her and that made me feel really good.

Once the emotions settled down, I got to thinking about what a maid of honor really does…plan a bridal shower and/or bachelorette party? Help with the organizing of the big day, and be present to assist the bride with whatever her needs are on the day of? Give a speech/toast at the reception (eep!)? A quick Google search revealed the following:
• Coordinate with the bridesmaids. This could include keeping them informed about fittings, pre-wedding parties, or anything else they need to know.

• Host a shower with the help of the bridesmaids. This includes planning, setting up, and splitting the costs.

• Host, plan, and set up the bachelorette party with the help of the bridesmaids.

• Pay for your wedding day attire. This includes your dress, jewelry, and shoes. The bridal party is responsible for purchasing their own attire; occasionally a very generous and thoughtful bride will purchase these items for you, but don’t bet the farm on it.

• Help the bride shop for wedding dresses, or at least offer.

• Keep the groom’s ring during the wedding ceremony.

• Arrange the bride’s train at appropriate point in ceremony, if needed.

• Hold the bride’s bouquet during the ceremony vows. (Be sure to give it back before she trots back up the aisle!)

• Arrange the receiving line after the ceremony, if applicable.

• Sign the marriage license if needed.

• Toast the bride and groom if given an opportunity-this could be at the rehearsal dinner or at the wedding reception.

• Help where needed at reception; make sure bride has a chance to eat and drink something.

This is actually the shortest list I found with the most common responsibilities. Other lists included many more, such as making sure all the other bridesmaids are prepared and on time, especially on the day of, directing guests and gifts at the reception and playing hostess, making sure the bouquets and corsages are given to the appropriate people, assist the photographer, etc.

Whew! That is a lot to take care of! Basically do anything that needs to be taken care of so the bride doesn’t have to, since on that day she should be relaxed and enjoying every moment. The two biggies that I forgot about are carrying the groom’s ring, and witnessing the signing of the marriage license. Those are BIG responsibilities! Everyone always jokes about forgetting the rings…what if I actually did?!

Fortunately for me, my friend is pretty laid back and will probably have a very non-traditional wedding AND she is hiring a wedding planner who I am sure will guide me through most of the process and take care of a many of the details on the day of. As of right now, they don’t have a date or anything, so I am waiting for further instructions. But I am excited and looking forward to being a part of the process for her. I am sure it will be a great day and I am honored to be able to be with her as she marries her best friend.

The Dapper Groom

Okay grooms...listen (read) up. Let's talk wardrobe. I have heard that tuxes are not the most comfortable thing to wear...and let's be honest, neither are bridesmaid dresses. Anyways, did you know that the latest trend in grooms wear is to get rid of the tux! Yes, you can thank me later (and I prefer chocolate over flowers). It's true, most people are opting to just go with a normal suit and to have their groomsmen follow suit (haha...it's been a long day, bare with me on the puns).
There are so many ways you can spice up a nice normal suit to make it wedding day acceptable! For example:

Get a fun/nice tie...and you may want it to match the color or theme of the wedding...

Or forget the jacket and just go with a vest...totally acceptable for an outdoor wedding

Bow ties! Dapper at it's finest!

 

Khaki suites seem  to be all the new rage...along with the fedora hat, which is always a nice touch!

So grooms, next time you start to get anxiety over a tuxedo...just remember, there are other options out there! Have fun with it!





Trend Alert!

Katie here!

We are officially full swing into wedding season here!  We have had our first few out door ceremonies the past few weeks, and it's been fun watching from the office as brides walk down the aisle.  Seeing so many very different weddings is also giving me plenty of material to write about and new trends to report!  Without further ado....

A few blogs posts ago, Amanda told you about the revolutionary new trend circulating regarding fake cakes. A very interesting and budget-friendly alternative to traditional, expensive cakes. We are getting into the busy season here with weddings and already I have seen two weddings with another trend regarding cakes: individual cakes or cupcakes on the tables instead of floral arrangements as center pieces. The two weddings that I saw do this also had a larger cake for cutting, and while I didn’t get close to them (due to having a bad cold the past few weeks and not wanting to breathe on anyone), now that I am thinking about it, I am willing to bet at least one of these was a “fake cake” (because why have a large REAL cake, and 20 little ones?).

Both weddings were beautifully decorated, and the cakes and cupcakes were such little works of art, that no one missed the traditional floral arrangement center pieces. I know cupcakes at weddings have been around for few years, so this is not necessarily a “new” trend, but seeing them on the tables in unique arrangements as decorations is relatively new to me. And while the pricing might not necessarily be any different, it does save you money on having to purchase floral arrangements for the tables, which you only use for a few hours anyway and probably often cost a fortune.


I mean really, how cute is this?

My Great Idea

I am excited to take some time out of my day to blog about something very special to me: trail mix.
Yes, ladies and gents...if you thought I was going to blog about world peace, puppies, or rainbows and unicorns ...I am sorry to disappoint you.

Trail mix has been one of those staples growing up in many families. It is easy to make, you can make it in bulk, it can be reasonably healthy and is a great mid-morning, afternoon, anytime snack. One of the trends that seem to be sticking around in the wedding world is the idea of a "candy bar" or a table with vases and jars filled with many different sweet treats that the bride and groom enjoy. This morning, as I was having my morning trail mix, I thought how having a "trail mix" bar would be a great idea, especially for those brides and grooms who are more health conscious! So, I'm driving to work and am pretty proud of myself for this idea...then google a couple of things and find out...this has been done, and my original great idea is still a great idea, but I can't take any credit for it.

I like how this bride made her own trail mix, put it in some medium size cello bags, closed it with scotch tapes and slapped a pretty label and ribbon on it and made it her favor.

and then..here is a picture of my "original" idea ...I love how they did this:

So many mixes can be added to this! Craisons, M&M's, marshmallow, peanuts,popcorn, cashews, roasted nuts, rye chips...the possibilities are endless!

Just because this has been done before and I can't patten it or stamp my name on it I hope this helps with some favor and other wedding DIY ideas!

p.s. here is my trail mix from this morning...or what's left of it. I think it would be a safe bet to say I wouldn't add raisins, but lots of nuts and M&M's to mine !



The Royal Wedding

Hi Again, Katie Here!

So the wedding everyone was talking about is officially behind us, and in my humble opinion I thought it was breathtaking and touching, filled with happiness and hope for the future.  While I didn't get up extra special early to watch it, I did DVR it and watch it the whole way through later that morning.  For me, it was like waking up on Christmas morning.  I couldn't wait to see what Catherine's dress looked like, how she and William would interact, what the church looked like, etc. 

The procession was timed to the minute, and appeared to go off without a hitch. Waiting for each arrival was magical, and the first time we got a glimpse of Kate Middleton in her dress, I got goosebumps and tears in my eyes. The second she stepped out of the car with her father by her side, I pretty much lost it. And when she walked down the aisle, it was all over for me. Haha! I thought she looked beautiful, of course, but I was more taken with her composure and how happy she looked. And when she finally made it to the alter and William whispered "you look beautiful" I was certain that THIS was in fact the beginning of something special.

I thought her dress was beautiful.  It was simple and elegant, and yet still fit for a queen.  And I must say, I also LOVED Pippa's bridemaid dress. Stunning!

When they said their vows and all throughout the ceremony, I was pleased to see they stole quick glances at eachother, and smiled and giggled the whole time.  It was so real, and they seemed so happy.  You can tell they really care about each other, and it's really nice to see.

When they walked out of the church and saw the people for the first time, you could hear the crowd roar with approval.  Everyone kept saying Kate would walked into the church a "commoner" and come out a princess, but when they walked back down the aisle, all I could think was they are just like all the rest of us, a newly married couple ready to start their lives together.  I love that she is real and approachable and confident, and I am happy to see that you could still read that on her face when she emerged from the church a future queen.

The carriage ride back to the Palace.  At one point they were holding hands and I thought that was amazing.  Check out that lace detailing on her dress too! So pretty.  And the bright red and blue of William's military attire was a stunning contrast the the white lace of her dress.

And finally the obligatory kiss on the balcony for all the world to see.  Did anyone else think this was incredibly awkward? Haha, but they were cheeky about it and even kissed twice for their public.  PS, how adorable is it that Prince Charles is holding up Camilla's granddaughter so she can see better??  I mean come on!  We all need a reminder that these really ARE just people who are a family and love eachother, and I felt after watching that that is really what the day was all about.  It was traditional without being stuffy, and filled with joy.  I'm so happy for them!  And I wish them privacy as newly weds, and all the happiness in the world.

Registry Fun!

Your engaged, wedding planning is on the way...a list has been written an on the top is the WEDDING REGISTRY!! The moment of anxiety and excitement settles in. Are we going register for things that are too expensive for our guest? or Oh my goodness, I have to think of a theme to design my new kitchen in! Think people will judge me if I register for a lot of Pyrex? Can I have too much Pyrex?
Well, my friends...let me introduce you to a website called www.registrystop.com, This website is designed not only to help the modern day bride and groom register, but also it is highly appreciated by your guest. The website allows you to register for things ANYWHERE!!! If you find that special vase that you have to have, but it is at a different store than where you originally register, just look it up on line and add it to your list. They even have a mobile app were you can take a picture of the item you want and have it recognize it on the website for you to put on the registry. It's a one stop shop.
Now...this gets even better... your guests take a look at your registry online (or even at the store) and they get OPTIONS of where to buy the gift...yes, options. They can find a place where they can pick it up, have it shipped, or if one store has it on sale for the week..they see that instantly and know they are getting a deal.

I haven't been this excited about something for awhile...so please check it out. Also, the creators of this must of known that today's generation doesn't always like to read direction, so their directions are in comic form. It kept my attention to the end, which is no small feat.

Check out the website...and you can thank me later!

http://www.registrystop.com

The Royal Wedding is on Friday!!

Hey Guys! Katie Here!

Is anyone else as excited about watching the Royal Wedding as I am?  It's only 2.5 days away, and I have been doing a little research on how to watch it and what will be happening that day and I thought I would pass it along!

London is 6 hours ahead of Milwaukee.  This means that when the ceremony begins at 11 am London time, it will be 5 am here in Milwaukee (and 3 am on the West Coast!!)  All I can say is thank god for DVR.  30 years ago, my mom got up early to watch the broadcast live, and while I will probably get up a little early too, I doubt I will be up at 3 am when the lives broadcast starts here with all of the preparations for the procession and ceremony!

There are several stations broadcasting live from London on the day of.  Local channels include WTMJ Channel 4 and WISN Channel 12, and broadcasting will start at 3 am and go until about 1 pm.  On cable, E! Entertainment will be broadcasting live from 3 am to 1 pm (on my TV that is channel 34, but it might be different depending on your provider...), as will TLC beginning at 5 am and CNN beginning at 3 am.

There will also be countless websites streaming live video of the day, from E! to CNN, to official websites such as these:
http://www.officialroyalwedding2011.org/
http://www.royalweddinglive.tv/
http://watchtheroyalweddingonline.com/

And last but not least, mostly because I find this absolutely fascinating, here is an official itinerary for the morning and afternoon/evening events.  The procession is timed to the minute and is based on strict protocol!  I can't even imagine, what are the chances they'll be late??

Time Table on Friday 29th April

08:15 and 09:45am - The general congregation arrive at the Great North Door of Westminster Abbey.
09:50 - Prime ministers and governors-general of various Commonwealth countries, the diplomatic corps and other guests arrive at the Abbey.
10:10 - Prince William and Prince Harry leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey.
10:15 - Prince William and Prince Harry arrive at the Abbey.
10:20 - Members of foreign royal families arrive at Westminster Abbey from Buckingham Palace.
10:20 - Kate Middleton's mother, Carole, and brother, James, leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.
10:25 - Minor members of the Royal Family leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey.
10:35 - The Duke of York and his daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, leave for Westminster Abbey along with the Earl and Countess of Wessex, the Princess Royal and Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence.
10:38 - The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall leave Clarence House for Westminster Abbey.
10:40 - The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh leave Buckingham Palace for Westminster Abbey.
10:48 - In keeping with protocol the Royal Family are the last to arrive just before the bride. Prince William will travel to the Abbey with Prince Harry in a Bentley. The bridesmaids and pages leave the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.
10:51 - The bride, accompanied by her father Michael, leaves the Goring Hotel for Westminster Abbey.
11:00 - Kate Middleton and her father arrive at the Abbey in a Rolls Royce. The marriage service begins and is relayed by loudspeakers along the route.
12:15 - Prince William and his new wife leave the Abbey in an open 1902 state Landau carriage for the procession back down The Mall to Buckingham Palace. In the event of rain they will travel in the Royal Glass Coach. The procession will be escorted by the Household Cavalry on horseback.
12:30 - The carriage procession arrives at Buckingham Palace.
12:40 - Members of the Royal Family and members of foreign royal families arrive at Buckingham Palace.
1:25pm - The Queen and the bride and bridegroom, together with their families, appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace
1:30pm - Fly-past by the Royal Air Force and Battle of Britain Memorial Flight.
1:45pm - Lunchtime reception begins for 650 guests at Buckingham Palace.
3:30pm - Lunchtime reception ends. The newlyweds leave Buckingham Palace and return to St James' Palace for a rest and to change for the evening reception.
7.00pm to late - Black-tie evening reception and dinner at Buckingham Palace for 300 close friends and family.

So there you have it!  Is anyone else dealing with sensory overload?  I feel like I'm going to miss something, but it's probably best to just pick a channel or website and stick to it, rather than flipping around trying to get all the info you possibly can. This is the longest post ever, so I will leave it at that.  I hope this helps!  And you can rest assured I'll be back after the fact, probably gushing over all the details!  Enjoy!

How much is this going to cost me?

You are newly engaged and extremely excited about it! I mean, you are about to marry the man/women of your dreams and can't wait! Things calm down a bit and reality hits it...and then there is the age old panic stricken questions that enters your mind...holy crap, how much is this going to cost me?!?
The thing with weddings is that you can be as thrifty or as elaborate as you would like to, and effort can make up for a lack of cash. DIY wedding are extremely popular and there are thousands of websites out there that can help you design a wedding of your dreams.

However....if you would like a rough average of how much a wedding would cost, I found a website that will let you know the average price of a wedding by zip code! It's a lot of fun to look at! For example, when I found the 53202 zip code (which is for the War Memorial Center) it said, on average, couples that live in or travel to Milwaukee, WI spend between $15,568 and $25,946.  I think that is an accurate amount of money for this area...again, you will have those who go above and beyond or below the average.

The website is: http://www.costofwedding.com

Another amazing feature on the website is that it will help personalize your wedding cost when you go to their wedding cost estimator. This is another great tool to be used for wedding budgeting! Hopefully this will help you get an idea of how much a wedding in your area cost.

Enjoy!

TheHoneymoon.com

I keep forgetting that I have been wanting to blog about this particular subject, and now that I am sitting here day dreaming about a vacation, it just popped back into my head. TheHoneymoon.com. In my humble opinion, one of the best ideas ever created for a wedding registry.

The age old question in wedding budget planning: what would you rather do - have a big, extravagant wedding or go on a fabulous honeymoon? Weddings are expensive, and let’s face it so is the honeymoon! But taking an exotic vacation or going on a getaway following your wedding is a great way to de-stress from all the wedding planning, get to go on an adventure, and spend a little quality time together as husband and wife. Traditional registries are great, don’t get me wrong. Even for those of us who live together before marriage, and already have the typical appliances (think blender), using a registry is a great way to upgrade these things or get a new set of matching towels or sheets (who actually has matching sheets anyway?.... or maybe that’s just me). But giving an experience is such a fantastic way to wish a new couple well in their new life together, and that is the reason I love TheHoneymoon.com so much.

A friend of mine introduced me to this website when she was planning her honeymoon to Ireland last fall. I immediately jumped on purchasing a day outing for them while they were there as their wedding gift. I thought it was a brilliant idea; you can buy anything from airline miles, to nights in hotels, to dinners, and activities. Whatever works for your budget. How unique to be able to contribute to a honeymoon instead of the traditional knife set or headlamp (everyone registers for headlamps right? Hmm…must just be the weddings I tend to go to…)!

Their website is very user friendly as well, and even gives you the option of selecting “ready-made” trips, which are helpful especially if you are traveling somewhere you’ve never been before. I’ve been recommending it to anyone who wants to splurge on a honeymoon trip, or isn’t sure of where to register. The only downfall is that you can’t be sure how many people will actually contribute, especially if you have other more traditional registries, so bare that in mind when you set an actual budget for your trip! And have a great time!

The Recipie to a Man's Heart...literally.

Alright ladies…if you are not engaged…but really wanting to be (provided that you already have a significant other) than keep reading.


While scanning my daily gossip and trashy magazine websites (hey, I got to stay up to date!) I came across this article on Yahoo!. It’s all about how this one recipe, now dubbed, Engagement Chicken is literally the way to a man’s heart and will make them drop down on their knees and propose.

Check out the link by clicking here, and here is the video:


 

I’m going to go home and practice this recipe…now I just need to find a man J

The Party That NEVER Ends!!!!!

I like to look at a lot of “trends” when it comes to weddings, and then compare them to the actual weddings that I witness. One of the 2011 trends (according to www.onewed.com) is a Revved-Up Wedding Reception. After just reading that first ceremony, I thought that would mean a really wild and crazy reception that would end at midnight…and then I read it and can tell that I am getting older. What the article meant was actually an after party for the reception!


There are a couple of ways I look at this, #1- who wouldn’t want this night to NEVER end, especially if you are the bride or the groom…keep the party coming! Point #2) Pass the Red Bull…that is one long day!

Going back to the first point, I think that many of the time, at the actual reception the bride and groom are on their “better” behavior, I mean…grandma and that strict Aunt Dorothy might be there watching every move you take. Have an after party would be more of a way for a couple to really let loose and be themselves around the people who can hang! Also…I mean, come on…don’t you want to wear that beautiful wedding dress as long as possible!

Now, where to have it.... For all of the venues out there, I am going to respectfully ask that you keep the reception and the after party in two separate locations! As a person who moonlights as a waitress on the side every once in awhile, I am also going to ask you to call ahead to any bar or restaurant that you feel you may go to…in fact, treat it like a reservation. This will only make the night go smoother. There is nothing funnier or more traumatic (depending on which side of the bar you are on) than watching the bartenders face when a group of 40 people come in at the end of the night and they are not prepared for it. If the after party location knows about this, than they can properly staff the venue accordingly. Just remember, you want well wishes on your wedding day, not death threats from the bar staff!

So, keep the party going! Just make sure you have a proper driver.

The Bionic Bride

Recently I was flipping through a People Magazine while I was at the gym, as I often like to do, when I noticed a tiny box in the table of contents of a beautiful, blonde young women standing in front of a mirror in an exceptional wedding gown. The title in the box read “The Bionic Bride”. With a name like that I of course I had to read it (always researching those blog post possibilities!). If you are a person who gets emotional over inspirational stories like I am grab a Kleenex box, it’s about to get emotional!


The insert in People magazine was actually a follow up from a story they first published last spring about a 22-year-old girl named Ally Smith. She was college freshman and star athlete at Texas A&M in 2006, when she was diagnosed with progressive heart disease. Her heart and her health were fading fast, and she wasn’t expected to live more than a year. Her condition was so dire, she wasn’t strong enough to wait very long for a heart transplant. Instead, doctors inserted a medical device that pumped the blood through her body, just as her heart would, allowing her heart to rest and potentially repair itself. She survived the surgery to implant the device, and the difficult recovery afterward, giving her a new lease on life.

This was a good thing because she and her fiancé were planning their wedding. Ally had met her boyfriend as a freshman, before she got sick. He loved her so much, and despite her declining health, proposed to her in 2008 saying he wanted to marry her regardless. With the device implanted, she and her fiancé walked down the aisle last spring, her in a beautiful ballroom gown with “electric blue” cowboy boots!

That was the original story published in People magazine. The follow up in the People magazine I read stated in early 2011, Ally once again took a turn for the worse. Her heart had been recovering, and the implant was helping buy her time, but in a very short amount of time her heart once again began to fail, as were her kidneys, liver, etc. She needed a new heart, fast. In mid-February of this year, Ally was fortunate to receive a new heart and is recovering well. Having become attached to the device that kept her alive for so many years, one of her first realizations upon waking up was that she would now live her life no longer as “the Bionic Bride”. She was simply back to being a normal girl who was fortunate to marry the man of her dreams, albeit with this assistance of some modern medical technology.

The Fake Cake

I’m not sure what way I am going to go with this blog…basically because, let’s be honest…I really like cake (okay, being even more honest…I really like all food). So, when a bride came to me last year and explained to me that she was having a “fake cake” at her wedding, I had feelings of concern, confusion, interest and curiosity. After further investigation, these fake cakes are actually quite intricate and amazing. They have a little “trap door” on the side of them that you an insert a Twinkie or a small piece of cake in there to use in the cake cutting ceremony. The point then is to have sheet cake in the back for the caterers to serve.

 So…why a fake cake, what are the pros and cons:

Pros:

• BUDGET! If you are on a budget and want a luxurious and elaborate cake for a quarter of the price…this would be a good option
• The cake doesn’t melt….Fake Cakes are used with fondant on Styrofoam which gives it very good support, this way it will stay intact in all elements of the weather.
• You can rent it…yup…just put a deposit down and they will ship it to you..it’s that easy.
• There are many different styles to choose from and if you don’t find one that you like you can always have one made.
• No wasted money on left over cake that will not be eaten.

Cons:

• You can’t eat it.  
• You can rent it…someone else had a cake just like yours.
• You may have to book well in advance to get the fake cake you want particularly if it is a popular wedding cake design
• You have to pay for any damage to the cake for repairs, or if beyond repair pay for the full cost to replace the cake.

 

There are a lot more pros and cons out there, but, for the budget conscience bride, this is definitely an option to look into!

 

Check out these pictures below…they are all fake cakes!

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Two in one dresses

Katie here!

With Spring approaching and everyone getting excited about wedding season, I have noticed recently the ads on tv for David’s Bridal’s $99 gown sale. I have in the past never really paid any attention to this annual sale, but this year as I am always looking for post ideas, I took notice and decided to do some research. I wanted to know what sorts of dresses are a part of this sale (answer: it’s really “save $50 to $300 off select dresses”), and if there was an abundance of dresses to choose from or only a few that actually only cost $99 (answer: many dresses are under $500 anyway, but not many were actually only $99 according to their online store.)


Anyway, I personally feel that their pricing is very reasonable to begin with, so any sort of a sale is an added bonus. But what caught my attention more than the sale, in little red letters on the left hand side of the website was an announcement pointing out a new style of dress in which part of the dress is removable to make it into two dresses. “Two in one gowns” they are called. Thus far they don’t have a large selection, and they are basically what you would imagine with a removable skirt portion to reveal a sleeker, more comfortable, smaller dress in which you would be able to move freely and dance the night away without worry about your large skirt getting in the way.

I think this is genius! It is the perfect blend of practicality and spontaneity. It’s like you have two dresses without the actual financial burden of buying two dresses! It is the perfect solution for brides who are interested in a very traditional, ballroom type gown to walk down the aisle in, but who also want to dance and have a good, comfortable time at their reception.

Am I out of the loop here? Perhaps this is not a very new idea and I am completely clueless. Either way, I think it is a cool idea, and find it funny that while I originally looked to the David’s Bridal website to see about their $99 gown sale, I was distracted by something just as interesting. Because really, what is more interesting than a wedding dress that costs less then $100?!

Groom's Corner ?!?!



Think of it as being an equal opportunity employer…this phrase is what should be included when a man is debating with his fiancé on whether to have or not to have a “groom’s corner.”


According to the Knot, the man’s corner is one of the hot trends of 2011. To clarify, this is an area that has been left aside in the reception hall where all things “men” are allowed. There could be a playstation, a Wii, poker table, cigars, and other stereotypical “man” things. Maybe even a little golfing will makes it’s way in there.

So is this a good idea? Many people will over think this question and come up with an over analytical hypothesis on how it is bias and stereotypical, and how it will separate the crowd. Let’s be real, it’s FUN!!! In fact, I bet the females will love it just as much, if not more than the guys will. If the fiance’s are competitive, maybe there should be a “brides corner” with massages (maybe a male masseuse), cosmo’s, gossip magazines, and mani and pedi’s. Two can play this game

What are your thoughts?

The Wedding of the Century

Hi All, Katie here!



I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I tend to keep up with entertainment news because I find it interesting and mind-numbing. Now that that is out of the way, I am still slightly embarrassed to admit that I spent more than a little time over the weekend searching the internet about the details of Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding. I, like so many others in the world, am slightly obsessed fascinated by their story. But there is a lot more about their story that I find intriguing and relatable than just their massive wedding and the fact that they are royalty. Indeed their wedding will no doubt be watched by possibly more than a billion people. (When Diana married Charles in 1981, over a billion people supposedly tuned in from all over the world. In fact, thirty years ago, my mom was among the people who got up early to watch.) Can we talk about nerves? Yeesh.


William and Kate have been dating for more than eight years, since they met in college. Over the years, the media has gotten impatient about when they would get engaged, even dubbing Kate “Waity Katie”, which I think is really sad. I love that they took the time to get to know themselves and each other and establish themselves as people, strengthening their relationship and their chances for a successful marriage, rather than cave to the public scrutiny and get married before they were ready. I think the course of their relationship not only defies past traditions in the royal family for the better, but also provides our generation with a very public and realistic example of two people who took their time in making a very important decision, while enjoying each other and building their successful relationship.

Their story also intrigues me because it is so relatable to my own situation, having met my boyfriend in college and been with him for several years since (and probably will be for a few more before we decide we are ready to get engaged.) Amidst many of my friends who are getting married and engaged before we do, we are decidedly NOT in a race to “beat” everyone else to the altar for the sake of being amongst the first.  My boyfriend always says we are working to end up happy in the long run, not the first to have done this or that.

As I scoured the internet for information about the upcoming Royal Wedding, I came across an interview in which a reporter asked William what took him so long, and with a chuckle he responded “I wasn’t aware it was a race.” I almost fell out of my chair, and at that moment, though we are leagues apart, I felt an understanding and a respect for their lives together that makes me really want to tune in on April 29, 2011 when they commit their lives to one another. Though they are England’s future king and queen, they simply love each other and want to spend their lives together, like so many of us “commoners.” Continuing on with the tradition my mom started a generation ago, I will mostly likely set my alarm that day and take part in their special day. I am sure it will be magical and I wish them all the happiness in the world as they continue their lives together.

And of course, I am sure I’ll blog about all the details too!

Haute Hair!

After recently getting my first haircut in 10 months (ridiculous I know) I have been thinking alot about hair. The wedding season is upon us and one of my favorite things is to see how the brides updo their hair!  It has been said that big trend for 2011 is for more of a polished ballerina look for hair, but I did some searching and here are some other haute trends for hair for 2011.

This is from the Pricilla of Boston runway show and the sleek ballerina style is definately shown here.

A boho-chic style from Angel Sanchez and Junko Yoshioka

Accessories such as the headband above are HUGE this year!

Flowers are a classic and timeless accessory to be put in your hair

Or you can really emphasize your theme with your hair

What are your thoughts on how hair should be done?

Photo Books

Katie again!

A very good friend of mine got married last September and went to Ireland for a ten day honeymoon. Moving right along, she is also expecting her first baby this summer!! (Can’t wait for this little one, you have no idea.) She lives back in Minnesota, so I don’t get to see her very often and when I was home a few weekends ago, we got together for coffee. I brought her a baby gift, and she pulled out of her bag the most gorgeous matching photo books of her wedding and honeymoon. I thought for sure they were done by her photographers…for half a second I actually considered how it was possible that her photographer was on her honeymoon??...

It turns out that SHE MADE THEM HERSELF!! I was so ridiculously impressed I had to find out more about this, and then of course share it with you all!! She made them on Shutterfly, and the best part is they have matching spines and are amazing quality, so she plans to keep making them as she moves forward in life, including BABY, anniversaries, vacations, etc.

Shutterfly.com seems to be very user friendly, and provides you with lots of options. You can choose the size, number of pages and type of binding you want, and you can choose whether you want Shutterfly to arrange each page, or arrange them yourself. Their pricing also seems very reasonable!

In the digital age, photo albums are becoming a thing of the past, but to me this is a revival of the “photo album”, the end product of which is more like a gorgeous coffee table book than an actual photo album. I’m loving all of the options, and am dying to put one together myself. I also think this would be a fantastic gift idea for any occasion!

I hope you all have as much fun day dreaming about this as I did. Enjoy!

The First Dance

The first dance in a wedding can be such a spectacular moment. This is when you are able to show off your wife or husband on the dancefloor and be admired by your friends and family.
Yes, that is what it is suppose to be...however, for a lot of your guest, the first dance is the time when they will choose to refill their drink or "powder their nose." This is escpecially true in the younger generations. While the first dance is suppose to be a remarkable and beautiful tradition, it has seemed to become lost a little. Lots of peopel still do it, but I love how people are adhering to the A.D.D. generation and starting to give theri first dance a WOW factor and add entertianment value to it.

Some people decide to entertain their firends and family with a fun, outrageous dance:



Others will practice their ballroom or salsa



OR others will start the dance party off early and dance down the aisle!



Whatever you do for your first dance, it will be spectaclar as it will be between you and your new spouce!

Enjoy!