Sunday, September 13, 2009

Reception Songs

Mr. Bliss and I have had our wedding playlist hanging over our head for nearly a year now... Despite my requests to work on the music earlier, he felt no urgency. Roughly three weeks before the wedding, it was time to sit down and pick our songs. We went back and forth and back and forth. I wanted these songs to define us, to define our families, to mean something. He wanted something fun to dance to...

After much deliberation, we finally picked the key songs for our reception.

Without further ado - here is a peek at our music selection...

Wedding Party Introduction: Beautiful Day - U2
It will be a beautiful day!

Bride & Groom Introduction: City of Blinding Lights - U2
I love this song. A nod to our life in New York.

1st song (Our DJ asked us to pick something to get everyone dancing after we were announced at the reception, to set the tone for the night): I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas
This song gets us moving - let's hope it works for our guests too!

First Dance: Everything - Michael Buble
We had a hard time picking a song. We never had "our song." Mr. Bliss and I danced around our living room to our options and this song won!

Father/Daughter Dance: Daughter - Loudon Wainwright
I was looking for a song that was special for my daddy and me. This one was sweet without being cheesy or making me melt into a puddle of tears.

Mother/Son Dance: Young at Heart - Frank Sinatra
Mr. Bliss and his mom love Frankie.

Cutting of the Cake - That's Amore - Dean Martin
How cute will this be? We are having a big Italian wedding. This song will be perfect with our theme!

Last Song - New York, New York - Frank Sinatra
Another song devoted to New York. Mr. Bliss is a big Yankees fan - this song is also played at the end of Yankees games. Nevertheless, a perfect way to end the night!

Monday, September 7, 2009

Ceremony Music

I have been spending a lot of time selecting the perfect music for my ceremony. There are many more pieces of music you need to pick than just the song you walk in to. Mr. Bliss and I are both Catholic and we are getting married in a Catholic church. Apparently, our diocese has some rules about what songs are appropriate to use in church. It has been my dream for quite some time to walk down the aisle to the song my mom did, "A Time for Us (The Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet)", but we apparently are not allowed to. I am terribly disappointed and was disinterested in finding music after finding out I couldn't use that piece of music.

Only recently, just a short time before the wedding, did I sit down and pick my music... here are our selections:
Processional - Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring
Bride's Processional - Canon in D
Presentation of Gifts - Lord of the Dance
Recessional - Hornpipe

Sunday, August 16, 2009

My bridal shower - part two!

Here's a little surprise gift I received at my shower...

I'm sure you're thinking, "WHAT?!??!"

It's also what everyone else at my shower thought when they saw a box wrapped in baby wrapping paper. The looks on my bridesmaids' faces as they handed me the present, thinking someone must've been terribly confused when they purchased a gift.

It took a moment, but I knew what this was. I smiled as I looked at the troubled look on my guests' faces, they would soon know why I was receiving gift that looked fit for a baby shower! (It's not what you think!!)

As I peeled off the paper and pulled out these adorable baby clothes, there was a note underneath....
Sweet little clothes
So cute to see
Show them off
With smiling glee
Though they may be darling
They’re not what you think
They’re not for the nursery
They stay by the sink
Even if we are dreaming
With pink and blue wishes
You can just pull a few strings, and
Baby, go do the dishes!

This gift was from Mama Bliss. She loves the shock on everyone's face and she sits there silent as everyone tries to figure out what in the world is happening. After the bride reads the poem, everyone gets a good laugh. These sweet little baby clothes are really made from dish cloths - but don't really pull the strings! I wish I had taken a picture of Mr. Bliss when I re-opened all the presents with him later on that day!! Confusion followed by utter fear. Not yet, my dear, not yet. ;)

Saturday, August 15, 2009

My bridal shower

As I write this, I really should be working on thank you cards...

I recently had my bridal shower. It was a beautiful day! My mom and bridesmaids did a wonderful job putting the party together. I felt so special that day! Here's a pic of Mr. Bliss putting on my wrist corsage after he walked me into the party!

Friends and family came from all over, it was so nice to see everyone. Since I love brunch, several of my parties have been bunches - the engagement party, the nightgown party and now, the shower. We had an amazing array of yummy brunch favorites and tasty Italian treats - I can't forget the champagne punch!

Since my wedding color is white, Mama Bliss wanted to bring in color where she could. For the shower, it was pink. I wish I had a photo of the invitation she did - it was so sweet! The room for the shower was decorated in pink linens and pink flowers. My mom did the hydrangea centerpieces - aren't they beautiful?


My mom also made the favors - all of the guests got to bring home adorable clothespin dolls dressed as bridesmaids. Even though my bridesmaids are wearing black, these little ladies are pretty in pink. They each have a little black ribbon as a nod to the black dresses.
Look at how sweet!

For me - Mama Bliss made mini brides. I got two - she was feeling creative ;) Look at the detail on the dresses! I had to include the back of the one bride's dress. I love them!


My bridesmaids planned fun games for the guests to play and even some for me too! They had great prizes for the winners - Williams Sonoma cookbooks! Everyone was hoping to win a game!

After the games, it was time for gifts. I was given wonderful, wonderful presents - including crystal stemware, finishing my everyday dishes, an All Clad lasagna pan, a convection oven, lots of baking pans, bedding, crystal pans and even a crystal punchbowl. Once I find room in our place for all of it, I will need to start hosting fancier parties! :) My bridesmaids made me a very sweet gift to give to me - a collection of photos of me & Mr. Bliss, growing up and through our relationship - there is even one of my daddy holding me the day I was born. Such a special book, I will cherish forever.

Off to the thank you cards - I have another shower post for tomorrow. Stay tuned!
xoxo

Monday, August 3, 2009

Calling all NYC brides-to-be! Wedding Library event this Wednesday (8/5/09)!

From the Wedding Library:
Cool off from the summer heat with a refreshing cocktail at the Speakeasy at 1220 Fifth (@ 105th Street).
Enjoy a summer evening on the terrace while you sip a spirit (or two) and enjoy tunes from the 1920s.

Wedding Library vendors, don't miss this opportunity to check out a unique New York City space and spend an evening with fellow Library Members.

Getting married? Contact us now to get exclusive access and a personal tour of the spaces available for weddings and special events at the Museum of the City of New York.

Wednesday, August 5th 6:00 - 9:00 PM
Catering by Sterling Affair
Music by Elan Artists

A $12 donation is required upon entrance and will get you a free drink and access to the first-floor galleries.

RSVP to Roey@theweddinglibrary.com to get the secret password for reduced admission!

Sunday, August 2, 2009

Engagement Photos

I encourage every engaged couple to have engagement photos taken before the wedding. I have wanted to have them done since right after we became engaged. I'm not quite sure why we waited so long to have the photos taken, but as every bride-to-be knows, time somehow moves ten times faster while planning a wedding. An engagement session is typically more relaxed and this gives the couple the opportunity to become more comfortable in front of the camera before the wedding. The city provides an amazing backdrop and by just walking a block in one direction or another, the photos can be completely different. Imagine standing in the hustle and bustle of traffic and then walking to the peacefulness of Central Park's reservoir.

The photographer we hired for our wedding does not travel for engagement shoots and since our trips to my hometown are always packed with appointments and shopping for miscellaneous wedding details, we sought out a photographer in the city. She met us on a cloudy Sunday morning - just as we began, it started to sprinkle... After a few photos, we walked to the next location, as we arrived (thankfully!) the clouds separated and the sun came out so we had blue sky and sunshine for the rest of the day.

We just received a few teaser pics as we are anxiously awaiting the full disk of photos.
Take a look at one of me and Mr. Bliss in the park!

*photo courtesy of Akansha Dayal.

After we receive all of the images, we will print several to use in frames at the wedding, and also for all of those wedding announcements! I can't wait to see them!

Friday, July 17, 2009

Dress of the Day

Today's dress comes from Monique Lhuillier. The dress style is called Leila and it is from the Fall 2009 Platinum Collection.

*Image from MoniqueLhuillier.com

The dress is tulle and has a tea length skirt. The shorter skirt is a modern option for a bride. It would be perfect for a morning ceremony and a brunch reception, or even an early dinner. The ornamentation is very formal, so the dress would still be suitable for formal ceremonies and receptions. The bodice of the dress is an illusion style, from a distance it appears strapless, but there is a sheer tulle sleeveless bodice adorned with crystals, sequins and pearls.
If you select a shorter dress for yourself, make sure to choose shorter gowns for your bridesmaids. This is an ideal way to show off those perfect wedding shoes you spent weeks or months searching for to match your gown!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Bridal Bootcamp

I am a bit of a fitness junkie - my day is not complete unless I get a good workout in. My workouts always vary and have been known to include running outside, spin class, the elliptical, the treadmill, pilates, yoga, body sculpting, free weights and nautilus machines. I love working out, but even I was concerned about getting in better shape for the big day and the beach honeymoon following.

The weather has been amazing, so I make it a point to get outside and run. The sun is a serious motivator, no one wants to run in the rain. Just don't forget your sunscreen! Tan lines DO NOT complement a strapless gown.

Strength training has been my focus recently. It's my least favorite part of working out so it is definitely where I need to direct my efforts. My new favorite strength training exercises are done using a resistance band. I like to work out with a resistance band because you can do it anywhere. If my workout is outside, I don't necessarily want to go to the gym so I can use the bands at home. I can also toss it in my bag if I go away so if I can only run or use a small hotel gym, I can still get in good strengthening exercises. Follow these resistance band exercise instructions below. The pictures are available on About.com.

Chest Press
Wrap the band around something stable behind you and hold handles in both hands, tubing running along the inside of the arms (under the armpits), palms facing each other. Squeeze chest and press arms out in front of you. Return to start and repeat.

Bent Over Row
Center tube under feet and bend forward at the waist, back flat and abs in. Grab tube close to the feet and bend the elbows to pull the arms up to the torso, squeezing the back. You can also do a seated version (see picture to right) on a ball or chair.

Rear Delt Row
Wrap band around stable object and sit (or stand) facing it, holding the handles with arms out in front, palms down. Pull the elbows back until level with torso, squeezing the shoulder blades and keeping arms parallel to ground.

One-Armed Reverse Fly
With front foot standing on one end of the band, hold other end in one hand and lean over, abs in, torso at 45 degrees. Keeping elbow slight bent and in fixed position, raise arm out to shoulder level, squeezing shoulder blades.

One-Armed Lateral Raise
Sit (or stand) with one end of tube under foot and the other end in one hand. Keeping elbow slightly bent and fixed, lift the arm out to side, to shoulder level.

Overhead Press
Place both feet on tube and grasp handles, bringing hands up just over shoulders with elbows bent and palms in. Press arms up over head and then lower.

External Rotation
Attach band to a sturdy object and sit or stand with right side facing object, holding handle in the left hand. Begin with hand in front of belly, elbow at 90 degrees. Keeping elbow in fixed position, rotate the forearm out to the side to about 30-45 degrees (not too far!). Skip this move if you have shoulder problems.

Bicep Curl
Place both feet on tube and grasp handles (the wider the feet, the harder the exercise). Bend the elbows and curl hands up towards shoulder. Lower and repeat.

Cross-Body Bicep
Place left foot on band and hold the handle in right hand. Begin the move with palm facing in and bend the elbow, curling hand up towards the shoulder, going across the body.

Band Kickback
Attach band to sturdy object in front of you in a split stance, bent at the waist with abs in. Hold handle in one hand, elbow bent. Straighten the arm, contracting the back of the arm.


From mackieshilstone.com

Monday, July 13, 2009

Wedding Favors

This past weekend, Mr. Bliss and I went to meet with our florist and reception venue for status meetings and menu planning. We accomplished a lot and I hoped to narrow my to-do list but instead, managed to come up with a hundred new questions to address and a million things to add to the list to take care of in the next two months. Thankfully, I enjoy being busy and the wedding tasks are fun for me. :)

One of the outstanding "TO-DOs" on my list is currently the favor. I don't really like traditional favors - I think it is a waste of money to give a porcelain frame or tin of candy that will be packed away and forgotten by our guests. One of my favorite favor ideas is a photo booth. It is fun and interactive, it gets your guests up and moving. It also gives them a fun memory to bring home.

Check out this link for more info about photo booths!

Some photo booths allow you to customize the print-out, so you can add your names and date of your wedding so your guests can save the pictures and remember the fun they had that day.

Remember to ask your photo booth supplier about getting copies of the photos for your photo albums too!

Photo from www.rentphotobooths.com/

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Custom Eyelet Stamps

My stationer created custom stamps for our outer envelope and response envelopes to complement our invitation suite. She used the sweet eyelet detail that is blind embossed on our invitations as a background for the the stamps. She created them on Zazzle.com. It's a nice opportunity to add a bit of style to your envelopes and personalize the stamps to be your very own!
Here are some close-ups of our stamps!
Response Envelope:

Outer Envelope:

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Dress of the Day

I adore lace. It's so feminine and delicate. Today, I chose to feature a dress by Amsale.

*Image from Amsale.com

It's simple, yet sexy. this gorgeous Alençon lace is a modified A-line, a very flattering cut. There is a sweet organza flower detail at the waist. The lace at the top of the bodice creates a delicate scalloped edge.
While dress shopping, I tried on several lace dresses-including this one!- because I think they are so beautiful, but they weren't for me. I am bringing lace into my wedding through other details (like my invitations!).

What style dresses did you fashionista brides-to-be choose?

Thursday, July 2, 2009

All Weddings, All the Time

Rainbow Media, the company behind the WE channel - home of Platinum Weddings, My Fair Wedding, Bridezillas and Amazing Wedding Cakes - is set to launch a new wedding network!

Read the full story here!

Check out WE go Bridal for programming information and wedding tips!

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Eyelet Invitations and Copperplate Calligraphy

I'm happy to say, I have finally completed the calligraphy for all of my invitations! It has taken hours and hours and hours, but it is worth it to me to have been able to do this for my own wedding. Once the stamps go on them all, they can go into the mail and on to our guests. Then my living room can be taken over by another wedding project!

Without further ado, here are some more pictures of the invitation suite:




And here is some of the calligraphy!



And here is more of what my living room looked like during one of my sessions:

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Etiquette Question

Q. I have an issue with my fiance having a bachelor party. Is it ok to ask him not to have one?

A. Let's not let the influence of The Hangover, a movie of a bachelor party gone horribly gone, begrudge a future husband of a fun night on the town with his friends. No one will lose your groom! Keep in mind that this man asked you to spend the rest of your lives together. He has trust in you, like you should have trust in him. However, it is perfectly ok for you to have an open and honest conversation with your groom-to-be, express your feelings - he may feel the same way about your bachelorette party.

Most brides and grooms choose to have a fun night or weekend with friends, different than the stereotypical party involving strippers and far too many drinks. Good friends of mine had separate dinners and nights out but included both parties meeting up at the end of the night before heading home. This summer, I will have a destination bachelorette party with spas and vineyard tours with my bridesmaids and my fiance will have a suite at a baseball game and a casual night with the guys.

Don't look at the bachelor/bachelorette parties as the last fling. You will both still have many, many fun nights together and individually with your friends once you are married. Trust each other and relax!

Friday, June 19, 2009

Calligraphy, calligraphy, calligraphy

Now that the invitations are in, my immediate time and energy are dedicated to calligraphy. Many months ago, I decided I was going to learn calligraphy and address my invitations on my own. It is quite the undertaking! I chose to learn copperplate, which is the classic script style and is frequently used for formal writing.

Visit here to find out a bit more about Copperplate: Copperplate

Check out this video to see a professional write in this beautiful style: Copperplate Calligraphy

No matter how organized and obsessively clean you may be, the wedding will find a way to take over your space. At first, it's just a corner and at some point it manages to completely fill up a room. Here is my living room during a recent calligraphy session - I promise it doesn't stay like this for long!

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Letterpress Invitations -- sneak peek at the Bliss invitations!

My invitations arrived! I love Love LOVE them!!
I have to work quickly to finish my calligraphy and get them all out in the mail as soon as possible!! I used the letterpress method for my invitations when designing them with my stationer. I fell in love with the look of letterpress, it is so classic and exquisite. The thick cotton paper is so luxurious. The bold, strong font that writes the story of our wedding day and the beautiful script that highlights our names combine to create the perfect invitation complemented by my delicate eyelet design.

I will include additional pictures of the whole invitation suite soon!

Here is a little more information about letterpress:

Letterpress printing is a term for the relief printing of text and image using a press with a "type-high bed" printing press and movable type, in which a reversed, raised surface is inked and then pressed into a sheet of paper to obtain a positive right-reading image. It was the normal form of printing text in the West from its invention by Johannes Gutenberg in the mid-15th century until the 19th century, and remained in wide use for books and other uses until the second half of the 20th century. In addition to the direct impression of inked movable type onto paper or another receptive surface, the term letterpress can also refer to the direct impression of inked printmaking blocks such as photo-etched zinc "cuts" (plates), linoleum blocks, wood engravings, etc., using such a press (from Wikipedia)

Invented in the 1400's, letterpress is the oldest printing process on the planet. Letterpress began as printing for the masses; it was how people used to communicate with each other. It was how people once printed their books, their broadsides, their manuals, their pamphlets, their newspapers.

Letterpress isn't the easy way to print. Constant interaction is required between the pressperson and the printing press. It's worth it, because in the end, the final product is heavy with human warmth and uniqueness. The printers and the client are tied together to a craft tradition that longs to be practiced and preserved.

Watch this for how letterpress is created: Letterpress Documentary

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Green Wedding Tip

Remember to give thought to all of your details as you plan your wedding to make the most environmentally friendly choices possible.

One detail that a bride tends to struggle with is choosing a wedding favor for her guests. When many brides select picture frames and other small knick-knacks that most guests will ultimately misplace shortly after your well-planned event, you can take advantage of choosing favors as an opportunity to share your passion for preserving the environment.

Today's green wedding tip is to give a donation to an environmental organization such as Greenpeace, in lieu of traditional wedding favors.
Let your guests know by leaving a note at each place setting with a brief explanation of the donation. A great idea is to create your notes on seeded paper from Botanical Paperworks - your guests can go home and plant the eco-friendly note, bringing new wildflowers to an indoor or outdoor garden, without any waste.

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Wedding Veils and Memories with Mom

I am the luckiest girl in the world.

I often need to take a step back and look at all the amazing things that I have and that I am able to do. My parents came to visit today with the sole purpose of Mama Bliss and I shopping for my wedding veil. Upon arrival, my mom told me that my veil would be my birthday present (my birthday is VERY soon!). I somehow became even more excited to go shopping with my mom knowing that she wanted to make this piece of my wedding so so so very special.

We had a few destinations in mind, but our first stop was Bride's Head Revisited. I had been to The Wedding Library before, but I was excited to walk up to the fourth floor into this room decorated with tulle and silk flowers waiting to adorn the heads of anxious brides-to-be.


I tried on different lengths, different blushers, different trim and loved it all. I decided on a gorgeous chapel length veil trimmed in crystal beads sprinkled with crystals. All of the pieces are custom designed and made specifically for each bride. I worked with Emily and she made me feel like a princess - she asked me lots of questions, she looked at my dress online, she made suggestions based on all of the details that I told her about the wedding. When I tried on a sample, and my mom saw the smile cross my face, she knew it was the one. Our day of trying on veils took a quick, but happy turn - and we were free to celebrate together (and later with Daddy and my fiance) for the rest of our time together.

I am so glad my mom was there. She is the only one who has seen the dress and veil - I love that we have these memories to share.

xoxo
Miss Bliss

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Calling all NYC Brides!

You are cordially invited to attend an exclusive, informational wedding planning event in The Oak Room at The Plaza on June 14th.

A Q&A session with a panel of industry professionals will help you in your decision making process as you learn the art of planning your own wedding!


Purchase tickets at The Art of Planning Your Own Wedding.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Color Inspiration -- NEUTRAL

A neutral toned wedding can be a very elegant affair. In this case, don't stick with just one shade of beige. Select multiple complimenting colors that will create visual interest instead of just blending in with the walls...

Some of the things that inspired me were:
Perrier Jouet - no one will argue with such a wonderful champagne! Don't the flowers say "wedding perfect" to you?
The invitation - it is Bella Figura Cartoccio letterpress. I LOVE letterpress. I love the designs on Bella Figura's website. This one seemed perfect for the neutral wedding.
The bridesmaid dress is from Amsale. I love Amsale's style. Simple and chic.
The infamous Jimmy Choo Grant satin peep-toe pump in Nude. I purchased them in the bridal version - but I am so in love, I had to use them again! If you decide to go with these, buy them several months in advance and wear them around your place when your fiance isn't home - I promise, your legs and feet will thank you for breaking them in!
The wedding gown is designed by Ines DiSanto. I actually had the pleasure of trying on this gown while she was at the bridal salon. Due to my proportions, she made some quick alterations and sketched me a dress. It was so beautiful - ultimately not THE dress, but it was a close second.
I love the champagne bubbles on the cake - a little whimsy brings some excitement to a classic wedding. To continue the champagne theme, the table numbers are set up on corks - so simple, yet so clever!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Helpful Wedding Planning Tools

Because you don't want to do this all alone!

As soon as I became engaged, I began the search for the oh-so-important wedding binder. Should I create my own? Do these pre-made binders have enough folders and notes? I searched all over, worried that I would end up with multiple binders because I didn't know what I needed. Thankfully, Mama Bliss sent me a gift one day. The Martha Stewart Keepsake Wedding Planner. Who better than Martha? It gives me places to keep my color coded post its and page markers, pens, cards, contracts, tear sheets and even gives helpful advice throughout the sections. It was a relief to receive this as a gift - then I could just move on with the planning!


In addition to planning the wedding, I have also planned our engagement party and rehearsal dinner. My future mother-in-law, while so very lovely, is sometimes too busy to concentrate her energy on the wedding. While I, of course, don't have extra free time, I took on the planning to know that they would get done. While we planned invitations for the engagement party and I began thinking of wording for wedding invitations and addressing envelopes for save-the-dates, I wasn't sure where to start. I turned to the experts and Crane & Co. and picked up The Wedding Blue Book. It gives you every answer to your every question and I rarely leave home without it. It usually sits beside me on my desk at work for anytime I have a question!


My other go-to wedding book is Emily Post's Wedding Etiquette book. It has helped me figure out some sticky situations, relating to one of my previous etiquette posts about mother of the bride/groom wedding attire. My mom helped lift the pressure off me there!


I like having the books to reference at any time during my wedding planning. However, you can find many of the answers to your questions, suggestions and recommendations online at Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides.com, WeddingChannel.com, and The Knot.

Lots of things to think about! Thank goodness we have experts to help us along the way!

Friday, May 8, 2009

A nice day for Green Wedding...

Let's be honest – one of the last thing most brides think of (if at all) when they are meeting with caterers, stationers, florists and various other vendors is "how is my wedding going to affect the environment?" Brides-to-be have a “To Do” list a mile long and the environmental impact of the tulips being shipped from Holland hasn't quite crossed her mind yet...

There are an estimated 6,200 weddings a day in the US alone, each one releasing an average of 14.5 tons of carbon dioxide. That is more than the average person's annual carbon footprint! Add all of it up and that is nearly 90,000 tons of CO2 EACH DAY in the name of love.

I have been researching different ideas and methods to be more environmentally conscious while planning my own wedding. I will share with you some “green” wedding tips to bring into planning your event to reduce your carbon footprint. Being Green has come a long way in the past few years – you can now have a totally eco-friendly wedding from your invitations to your sweet send-off without having to compromise your design.

Today’s Green Wedding Tip:
Invitations

I selected a cotton paper from Crane & Co for my letter-press invitations (Crane's Lettra Letterpress 220lb). Crane & Co. cotton papers are made with recovered tree-free fibers, the processing the papers go through is also environmentally friendly. Read more on Crane's website.


While working with my wonderful stationer, we were able to save on the impact of shipping and use the computer instead. After the initial samples were sent so I could see the different papers and colors, updates and changes were made to the design via PDFs over email. I could look at everything on the computer screen instead of having her print and ship each adjustment.

While selecting your papers, use cotton, bamboo or 100% recycled stock to preserve the trees. You can select a soy-based ink for your eco-friendly printing - in the past the printing industry has used petroleum-based inks, which have two primary environmental downsides. First, they are made using a non-renewable resource (petroleum). Second, petroleum-based inks release Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) that reduce indoor air quality and can have negative short- and long-term health effects.

You may also choose to reduce your impact by bucking formal tradition and combining information on to a single card (this also saves the extra envelopes). If you are inviting everyone to your ceremony and reception, add the reception information at the bottom of the invitation instead of including the separate card. And, if you don’t mind a casual form of response, add a phone number, email address or website (many sites like WeddingChannel.com can now accept RSVPs) for your guests to reply. You will save the energy is takes to transport so many cards back to you.

Remember, little things add up!!

**Stay tuned for more details about my wedding invitations!!!

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Daily Candy Weddings

The lifestyle gurus at Daily Candy have launched Daily Candy Weddings!

Check it out!!

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Etiquette Question

And Guest???

Q. How do I handle addressing my invited guests who are not on the list with a “plus one”? What if they ask me if they can bring a date?

A. This is a sensitive subject. In an ideal world, we would extend an "And Guest" to all of the single guests invited. Unfortuntely, it is not always possible. In many cases, the guest list is the hardest part of planning a wedding. Each guest has a reason for being on the list. As a guide, if a guest is in a relationship, he or she should absolutely be extended a guest invite. If your invited guest is single – it is not required to include a guest.

In my experience planning my various wedding-related events, I have run into a few issues with guests wanting to include a plus one. I sometimes need to step back and wonder how these guests thought it was appropriate to call the host of a party to ask if they could bring someone OR invite a guest prior to the invitation even being sent. Thankfully, the wedding party can take control during these awkward situations and lift the pressure off the bride and groom.

When you are managing a list of hundreds of people, it is hard to imagine including so many extras that you do not know.

Just remember, if you let one single guest bring a guest, you have to extend the privilege to all of your single guests. The wedding party is an exception – it is appropriate to include a guest for all single members of your wedding party regardless of what you are doing otherwise.

Good luck!!

Monday, April 27, 2009

Color Inspiration -- WHITE

I love white weddings! Which is, of course, why I decided to have a white wedding myself...

White wedding details are timeless - classic, and you can personalize your event with unique touches to make it all your own. You may want small color accents here and there, such as a shade of green, which can highlight flower buds and leaves. Or as I have shown below - bring in metallic accents in silver and gold for a traditional feel using silver trays, gold chairs and metallic ribbons.

When you design a monochromatic event, it gives you an opportunity to pay extra attention to textures. You can create a look using linens to completely change the aura of a room. I love the lacy details throughout the pictures below. The china coordinates with the place cards and with the candles, the mirrors and the wine favors. By the way - I love the wine with custom labels as a gift. Take yours one step further and make the wine yourself! You and your hubby-to-be can spend some quality time together learning all about the wine making process from crushing to bottling at Make Your Own Wine. If time and budget allow, it is such a romantic treat for the bride and groom to create a wine to give to their guests at the wedding.

I can predict multiple White inspiration boards in the future! :) But here are just a few to start you off! I love the yummy meringues - my favorite cookie! Hand them out to the guests as a favor or at the end of the night, or slip them in the welcome bags for an added treat!!

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Etiquette Question

Q. What should my mother or future mother-in-law wear to my wedding?

A. This is a matter of preference. If you have a strong opinion make sure you let them know how you feel. Communicate with your mother and future mother-in-law about what you would or wouldn't like to see them wear that day. Take into account the formality of your wedding, you don't want the mothers to be over-dressed or under-dressed compared to your wedding party.

According to etiquette, mothers should not wear the same color dress as the bridesmaids. Or the bride - of course!

In my case, I asked my mother and future mother-in-law to please not wear black (the color my bridesmaids are wearing) or red (with everyone in black and white, the pop of red in the wedding pictures would have drawn your eye right to that red dress!).

Ask the mothers if you can go shopping with them. They will be happy to have your approval on the dresses. It was a wonderful experience to go shopping with my mom for her dress - she got to be the star of the show and I got to tell her how beautiful she is for a change.

Encourage both women to talk to each other about what they are wearing. Your mom may remember something you asked that your future mother-in-law does not! ;)

Thursday, April 9, 2009

The Most Amazing Shoes!

After I purchased my dress back in November, the search for the most amazing wedding shoes began. I fell in love with the Grant shoe from Jimmy Choo. I was going to go with the shoe in nude, which I didn't love, but was at least happy it was neutral since black wasn't an option for me! After calling the boutique and learning that the shoe in my size did not exist anywhere in the world, I was a bit disappointed and disheartened. My search was temporarily on hold.
My future mother-in-law recently made the nicest gesture and said she would like to buy me my wedding shoes. I was suddenly excited to look again!
Walking past Christian Louboutin a few days ago sparked my interest. I was with Mr. Bliss, so I couldn't start trying things on, but I had a new starting point. After visiting the CL store a few days later, I realized the shoes were not a good color to match my dress. As I walked back to my office, I stopped at Jimmy Choo. The sales consultant took me upstairs and there were the shoes I loved, in the bridal version! I was ecstatic. It must have been my lucky day, because the shoes were in my size. I put them on hold to bring someone in for a second opinion and I sent photos to my mom at home for her reaction also.
I went back to purchase them with the blessing of my future mother-in-law.
I am in love!

Aren't they fabulous?!?

Monday, March 30, 2009

The Perfect Invitation Search...

Wedding planning has been a dream for the most part. Most of my decisions were painless and made without too many hesitations.
My biggest issue? Invitations.
I consider myself a simple, classic bride. I don't want colors, I don't want ribbons, I don't want lots of things going on all over the place. I have made several long trips to Kate's Paperie and searched and searched online for a glimmer of inspiration. For months, I found little to nothing that appealed to me. Searching online, I came across this beautiful invitation on a blog and was determined to find it.
After bringing the picture back to Kate's and begging them to find it for me, they told me these invitations were custom-made for the bride with the manufacturer - the artwork was her own and these were one-of-a-kind. If there was a dream invitation, this was it!
Back to the drawing board...
My time is running short and I imagine crunch time for calligraphy.
I am receiving samples in the mail this week and visiting Kate's, yet again, tomorrow.
Now, I would notice if I received a beautiful invitation in the mail. However, I know that most guests do not. My invitation will ultimately end up in a frame and a memory book, but all my guests will throw it away. It's amazing what a bride can agonize over!
Stay tuned to see what I select for my wedding invitations!

Monday, March 16, 2009

Color Inspiration -- BLUE

Something old, something new, something borrowed... you know the saying! I'll make sure to give you ideas for all of those along the way, but for now, I am going to address the 'Something Blue'. In this case, the entire wedding!

You can take the color blue in so many different directions: French Country, Nautical, or veer off into the oh-so-trendy Tiffany blue. This time around, I am taking a straight-forward classic approach to blue details.

Here are some of the special ideas in the images below:
Christian Louboutin blue soles – it is rumored that they have stopped producing these precious shoes for high-style brides, BUT I recently saw a bride with blue soles! (as of Fall 2008)

Blue lighting – creates a chic look and a relaxed mood. Use white flowers and linens to pick up the blue light.

Even if you don’t throw the garter, wear one – for tradition’s sake!

I love custom details. Create your own stamps at zazzle.com

"Do your friends a favor" - Go to Amsale for your bridesmaids dresses! Her incredible style will make your girls feel feminine and pretty - don't forget - they will be comfortable too!!

Friday, March 6, 2009

Etiquette Question

Q. How do I tell my guests about my registries?

A. Word of mouth, it's the only way.
I promise - your guests will ask your mom, future mother-in-law, bridesmaids, etc about where you are registered. If your guests are technology savvy, they will search your name on The Knot or WeddingChannel.com and have everything at their fingertips.
Do not include your registry on any written communications you send to your guests, not on your save-the-dates and certainly not on your invitations. If a guest asks you where you are registered, you can, of course, tell them. If you have a wedding website, it is acceptable to add that to your save the date (most registries are linked to websites, so if your guests explore your wedding page they will find your registries).

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Wedding Registry

One of the many exciting parts of getting married is the gifting to help the couple start their new lives together. I love perusing a bride’s registry to see how she plans to fill her cabinets! When purchasing gifts for various wedding-related events, I also like to put a little of myself into the gift selection. One of my favorite gifts to give is something for the kitchen such as recipe books, cooking tools, etc. Then, I get this part from my mom (I already told you she's clever!) – I like to buy a few of the towels from the registry and wrap the gifts in the towels, tie with a pretty ribbon and decorate with silk flowers. It makes for a creative and useful way to give gifts!

One of my bridesmaids said she wanted to ignore my registry for our engagement party – here is what she gave us:

All in fun! But true :)

Here are a few of my favorite registry selections:
-All-Clad stainless steel pots and pans – isn’t it amazing?? It’s also safe cookware. I’m hesitant about non-stick cookware, given that the coating can scrape off and is poisonous.
-KitchenAid mixer – every new wife needs one of these! Such a lifesaver! Mama Bliss swears by hers. I was so excited to be engaged because now it’s my turn to get one!!!
Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven – beautiful, beautiful cookware. Such a nice heirloom piece.
Also pictured below: Calvin Klein organic towels, Waterford Lismore Nouveau crystal stemware, Mauviel copper mixing bowl, Kate Spade Belle Boulevard vases, Bride & Groom Cookbook, Riedel wine glasses, Crate and Barrel cupcake stand, Crate and Barrel white dinnerware, Samsonite luggage, Kosta Boda decorative bowls, Ralph Lauren bedding, and a bathroom set from Macy’s.


If you are looking for a creative gift to ease the stress of the busy bride-to-be, consider a gift from MissNowMrs.com. The service will help the bride to be change her last name on all the appropriate forms according to her state of residence – driver’s license, passport, social security card, credit cards, etc.


Happy shopping!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

Nightgown Party

My family has a sweet tradition of holding a Nightgown Party for the bride-to-be. Some people may be familiar with it as a personal shower. It is a small party of the women in the family, bridesmaids, friends, etc. held shortly after the engagement and prior to the bridal shower. It is usually held instead of an engagement party, but luckily, my future mother-in-law gave us one also.
Mama Bliss hosted my party this past weekend. Such a special day to celebrate the upcoming wedding! I got to tell my relationship and engagement story over and over to all of the family I hadn't seen recently. Even my future mother-in-law got a taste of my loving (but loud) Italian family.
Here are a few of my gifts below - the first is a gorgeous (!!!!) Claire Pettibone lace bridal nightgown, from my mom. She also gave me the stunning coordinating lace robe. Mama Bliss also made the chocolate pops for favors. She's so the Martha Stewart type! :)
Such sweet memories from the day for me to always remember!

Monday, February 23, 2009

Etiquette Question

Q. How should I address an envelope to a couple that is living together but not married?

A. This is very common and accepted now. In the days when the first etiquette guidelines were written, a couple never (gasp!) lived together before marriage. :)
In this case, state the woman's name first. Followed by the man's name on the line below. Then continue the address as usual.
Miss Jenna King
Mr. Paul Johnson
123 Grand Street
Anytown, Anystate
11111

The same rule applies to a married couple when the woman chooses to not change her last name. Then I would suggest using Ms. instead of Miss.
Ms. Amy Brown
Mr. David Goldstein
789 Broadway
Apartment 3447
New York, New York
10001

Friday, February 20, 2009

Color Inspiration -- PURPLE

As we have just ended another whirlwind New York Fashion Week, this post is inspired by a look from the Fall 2009 Ralph Lauren Collection runway show - today's color pick is Purple.

Wouldn't this make a fantastic rehearsal dinner dress for a late fall wedding???

There are so many ways to bring purple into your wedding. I focused mainly on violet this time and brought in a few lighter and brighter tones to create depth. I like the pop of chartreuse on the cookies. An accent color ties everything together and creates visual interest so your event will not appear overwhelmed by a single color.
The paper lanterns add whimsy to your party. They would look great in a lounge area or as decor for the afterparty.
Your guests will always remember your personalized Hershey kisses. Make your own stickers for your own kisses at MyWeddingLabels.com.
Don't you LOVE the purple metallic Manolo Blahnik heels?

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Etiquette Question

Q. How far in advance should I send my save-the-dates? What about the invitations?

A. Your save-the-dates should go out about 6 months before the wedding day. Save-the-dates are especially important if you are celebrating your wedding on a holiday weekend - when many people would normally make plans. If you are having a destination wedding, you should give your guests as much notice as possible. Save-the-dates are typically sent out 9-12 months in advance, since your guests will have to make travel plans and may need to plan budgets accordingly.
Invitations should be sent out 2-3 months prior to your event.

Friday, February 13, 2009

Color Inspiration -- PINK

It must be the Valentine's Day spirit. I am inspired by all the pink surrounding the holiday so I hope to inspire you with some of my current pink finds. A pink wedding is appropriate any time of the year. Since pink is a favorite color of many brides-to-be, you will have no problem coordinating your sweet colored affair. There will be no shortage of pink posies, purses or pocket squares. I love the idea of colored shoes with a white wedding gown. You could always wear white shoes for your ceremony and literally kick off your heels for a pair to match your decor.

Save the Date

This week I took on addressing my save the dates. No easy feat as I was updating my spreadsheet daily with address changes and more guests... Post work and the gym, I would spent the remainder of my nights, sometimes into the early morning, delicately handwriting each envelope.
I chose to go with save the date magnets. I feel like most people toss a save the date into a drawer and lose track (the same goes for invitations - my fiance being my proof). So a darling reminder on the fridge will keep it fresh in our guests' minds.
Here's a peek at what it involved!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Valentine's Day

I think the concept of having a day to remind everyone with someone special in their lives to do something a little out of the ordinary is a nice idea when we are all overloaded with negative news all day.
I thought of some sweet treats for the holiday this year.

For the body:
A Godiva Chocolate Body Wrap at Ajune spa in Manhattan.
Totally indulge your mind and body.


For the sweet tooth:
Crate and Barrel is a one stop shop. Pick up a Barefoot Contessa Red Velvet cupcake mix with cream cheese frosting. Bake the little treats in heart printed paper liners and decorate with Valentine's day sprinkles!


For your bridesmaids:
A cute heart-shaped case full of travel-size Clinique lip glosses. Make them feel special too!!


For your desk at work:
A signature Dylan's Candy Bar paint can full of a Jelly Belly Valentine's Day Mix. It makes your workspace festive and your co-workers will feel special too!


For him:
Because he won't appreciate a beautiful floral arrangement, send this adorable box of sugar cookies to his office to let him (and his co-workers) know he has the best fiancee.