Missing Wedding Band

I am going to get a little personal here...I am newly married. I have found the love of my life and look forward to being with him forever and all that mushy stuff.
Lets talk about our wedding. We had a beautiful backyard wedding with the grand total of about 20 people in attendance. Afterwords we went to a family friends lake house, took a ride on a pontoon boat, had a shrimp boil and then got in the car and went for a 6 day long road trip that lead us all the way to New Orleans. It was perfect.
After doing a lot of research and being thrifty, we had decided to purchase my husbands wedding band (tungsten carbide) online. It was the right move for us, and it turned out great. I also knew that this person,  who  again is the love of my life, is also sometimes just plain forgetful and absent minded. Therefore, I should of not of been too mad when he lost his ring AFTER THREE WEEKS OF BEING MARRIED. I may of overreacted, and I may of been a bit untactful on how I dealt with this lost because deep down (okay- not that deep down ...it was more of a fact) I knew that this was going to happen- which is why we got the ring online at a fraction of the cost of what it would cost at the jeweler . So after being very dramatic and maybe a tiny bit crazy- we finally re-ordered a new ring and he has promised, for the sake of not having to deal with me again on this issue, to not lose this ring.

This got me thinking about what IF we had a gotten the really expensive ring? What if it was my ring that went missing? There is an app for tracking your missing iPhone, why can't there be one for your ring...or is there already?  I decided to do some research and found out that the idea has been thought about before, but not for absent minded husbands who takes it off before bed or working out- but more for the husband who has a wandering eye and sometimes ends up with another person that is not their significant other. I also learned that if there was a GPS device in the ring, it would have to be battery powered and in my case, my husband can't even remember to change a light bulb, let alone a battery unless it is for the t.v. remote. So, fine..this isn't going to work now or until someone makes a solar powered, affordable, gps tracking ring. When they do, I will be the first one to get it for my husband (who I trust completely in all aspects except for remembering where he puts things).

While I was doing my research I found a lot more fun rings that people have created. One of my favorites was this one:

It is a special engagement ring that glows when her fiance' is near.It is so quirky that it's awesome. You can read the article on this ring here.

Anyone else know of some interesting non-traditional rings out there?

CAKE!!!

Oh the mighty wedding cake.

I like cake just as much as the next person. I also love cupcakes, cake pops, candy tables...basically if you just take a bag of sugar and pour it down my mouth, I'll be happy. 

Now- there are many people who do not participate in the traditional cutting of a cake for their wedding, and to each their own. However, if a bride and groom are going to spend a good chunk of change on a cake, I like to make sure that it can be showcased before the caterers take the cake back to get it ready for dessert service. What I have found is that there seems to be a trend of lace on cakes for this year. I am just in awe as I look at these highly decorated and extraordinary cake! Lace detail can NOT be easy- but it looks so elegant.  

www.weddingelation.com

Another trend that I have been seeing is to have more than one cake. I guess, if one is good, three must be great! A lot of times a bride and groom will have a sheet cake in the back for the caterers to cut to help with cost. This would eliminate that and the guest would be able to see exactly what is going to be cut and put in front of them. It also gives a really nice presentation. 

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Martha Stewart

Cupcakes have made a comeback too- but these little hand held pieces of goodness will be saved for another post. I need to go get some good old fashion butter cream frosting after looking at all these delicious cakes. 

Milwaukee is #4 for Best Cities for a Happy Marriage!

So today, as I was doing my usual browsing on yahoo.com I came across an article that was titled 10 Best Cities for a Happy Marriage and of course...my curiosity got to me so I clicked on it. I am happy to announce that Milwaukee was #4 on this list :-) You can check out the article by clicking here.
Watch out Milwaukee- we are going to be known for something else other than, beer, cheese and football (not that any of those are bad).
A Happy Marriage starts with a Happy Wedding and a Happy Wedding can easily be done with many of our amazing wedding vendors in the area. I have stressed this before, but it is so important to trust your professionals when it comes to weddings and their craft. All of your wedding vendors want your event to be wonderful because it is also a reflection on them. We also know that word of mouth is the best marketing out there, so if your D.J., Caterer, Photographer etc... was awesome please tell your friends!
There are also a lot of resources out there directly for Milwaukee weddings. My favorite is the website www.marriedinmilwaukee.com. Started and created by local Milwaukeeans themselves, these guys have built relationships with vendors and have gone all over Milwaukee to make a website especially for weddings in Milwaukee. I will not be offended if you click off of this blog right now and go to their site. In fact- here it is again www.marriedinmilwaukee.com.
So...now that you have checked it out you may have seen something about a bridal marketing night. Do not fear as you may have missed the last one, there are many more in the future. This is a whole new way of visiting a "bridal show" and...there is booze involved :-) Instead of having booths of vendors and brides and grooms going to each booth, basically Married In Milwaukee puts everyone in a room and lets them mingle and network. This way, a bride and groom can see their vendor in a more natural habitat. It's pretty fun. Make sure to sign up for their newsletter so you can go to the next one.
Well, there you have it- a recipe for a happy marriage in Milwaukee! Just beware that this article also says that Milwaukee ranks first in "Best Cities for Sleep."  Happy Marriage I understand but "Best City for Sleep"  I am skeptical of, because the authors/researchers are clearly not living on the same street I am...

Photo Bombs

Photo Bombs...

Let's admit it- they are funny when they aren't happening to you on your wedding day. 

So- have a good laugh and check out these pictures !

Wedding Dresses Throughout the Ages

I recently went out of my comfort zone and bought my first animal print dress. To probably 99% of the world, it is no big deal...but it got me thinking about fashion and blasts from the pasts. My last "out of my comfort zone" purchase was a "high low" dress...the dress that has a higher hem in the front (to the knee) and then in the back goes down to past the ankles. I wondered if this "high low" dress was a new idea or if it has been done before. Then I started thinking of wedding gowns for some odd reasons and wanted to see the what the trends have been and how in 2013 we have gone from:

to this:

After doing some research and finding this great website. I was stunned to see so many fashions that have come back around. For example, her is the more tasteful "high low" wedding dress:

 

And then - I feel like I have seen this on some recent celebrities:

..and then I see that ...sigh...there have even been years that may need to be erased:

So, from buying an animal skin  dress- to a "high low" dress, I have realized that fashion really does just keep on circling around! Click Here to check out this great website and see all the dresses throughout the years!

Vintage Wedding Love

In the wedding industry we (as vendors) hear the word "vintage" alot. Like, alot alot. I don't blame those who want to have some vintage flair incorporated in their wedding, because, lets be honest- it's pretty darn great!.

So how does one incorporate vintage flair into their wedding?

It could be in the way of some antique jewelry such as these beauties.

 Other people like to bring in old windows and doors and use them as props. Now, if you just don't happen to have a nice vintage looking table, door, or prop around the house- have no fear- the people at A La Crate  Vintage Rentals have you covered!

Browsing their website is a lot of fun. There are so many cool things that could make such a statement at your wedding. For example, this vintage suitcase is so beautiful and would be a great card box on the gift table:

Photo Credit: Dodge Creative

They have a warehouse full of props and even do custom writing on chalkboard signs!

If you ware looking for a splash of vintage or antique for your day, check out their website and prepare to be amazed! 

Chair Decoration

LOVE THESE CHAIR TIES! I also love that they are on black chairs, but a with different colors they could look good on almost any chair! 

Thank you Pintrest!

Plan "B" through "Z"

Source: helpwithweightloss.org via Synthia on Pinterest

Found this picture/saying and had to post this for anyone who is planning a wedding. It is so true. So many times we are focused on one specific idea and if something goes wrong (such as weather) we can stress out about it and it can ruin our day.
When planning a wedding or a function or event, it is imperative to have back-up plans, especially if it is an outside event. It is even more important to be okay with said back-up plan. Knowing that you have a full proof plan, even if plan "A" doesn't work can greatly decrease the stress level. If you are stuck and not sure how to proceed with a plan "B" "C" or "D" - talk to your professional vendors! They have been doing this for a great deal of time and usually have seen many successful and unsuccessful events and can give some great insight.

Happy Planning!

Best Man Speech

 From Megan:

To be the Best Man or Maid of Honor of a  loved one is a privilege. A friend of mine was the best man in his brother’s wedding. Like many of us would, he had a bit of nervousness when deciding what to say in his speech and he wanted to make it original. He decided to put a little extra time and energy into a speech that turned out to be more than memorable.

Take a look:

Etsy Love

Dear Etsy,


I love you,


Sincerely.


Amanda Leyrer


~~~~~
Just look at the wedding goodies I have found this week (click on them to go to the etsy website):

Save the date

Guest book!

First Dance Paper Lyric Tree

Personalized Wine Labels

This could go on for way too long...but check out www.etsy.com for some more amazing homemade wedding products!

Just watch this...

I know that choreographed songs are a little more popular in weddings these days, but this one takes the cake. I laughed pretty hard at this! I love the effort that the groom and his groomsmen put into it!

The Honeymoon

A post from Megan

A big trend for 2012 honeymoons includes one of my favorite things; traveling. Couples today are now deciding to cut cost in their weddings and putting the money towards travel, which is an idea I love.

In the past years all inclusive vacations to places such as Mexico and Jamaica have become extremely popular for a romantic getaway. Now couples are choosing to skip lying on the beach for a week, and choosing to see other beautiful parts of the world. Some of the places that have become very popular are Thailand, Morocco, Nepal, or Africa, which are all on my list of places to visit.

Another great place to honeymoon, that I have mentioned to numerous people is Costa Rica. It is completely affordable and one of the best vacations I have ever been on. Anyone who I have talked to that has gone to Costa Rica has fallen in love with the laid back lifestyle and adventurous excursions. In the volcanic regions you can go hiking, or whitewater rafting. Up in the mountains there are zip lining tours or waterfall repelling, then when it is time to relax in the hot sun you can take a boat tour or go snorkeling off the shore. I personally love the idea of a nontraditional honeymoon!

Some websites that offer alternative registries are www.honeyfund.com or www.zankyou.com/us. These websites allow couples to register for their vacation excursions or dinner since many couples are skipping the kitchen supplies and taking a trip they will remember forever.

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!