RSS Feed
Share the Love!
- Please link to us! Download a button, save it to your server, and link back!
Badges & Awards
Subscribe
Jun
8
Oh goodness! I always love a creative invitation, but this? This is just amazing!!! Who comes up with these things? Fabulous! Such an adorable video!
Mar
12
RealSimple Weddings
Filed Under Destination Weddings, Planning Tips | 2 Comments
Any bride can tell you planning a wedding can be a very stressful undertaking. The folks at RealSimple have recently released their 2009 Weddings magazine planner edition. This is the second year for the planner and is designed for everyone whether you are panning a backyard DIY wedding or a black tie extravaganza. This book will give you step by step guidance in planning your day with the least amount of stress.
In true RealSimple style, everything is laid out, well, simple. The editors have broken down the major categories that are entailed in planning including elements such as checklists, FAQ’s and stunning inspirational photos from actual weddings. The blurbs from each featured wedding include descriptions of how each couple incorporated design elements to fit their personality to make it a truly special day.
Some of the categories and planning features which really stood out for us to make this not just any other wedding planning book was the dress section and the flower section. The dress section has a full descriptions for eight different body types and which style dresses are flattering for those body types. A bride can then narrow down her dress style choices by choosing a style more flattering for her, but also save time by not trying on lots of dresses which may not flatter her figure.
In the flower section is a two page layout chart of common wedding flowers. The chart contains information such as time of the year commonly available, colors available and also a “good to know” section. Not only does this help you pick the flowers according to the time of the year they would be the least expensive, it will also let you know information such as whether the flower bruises easily or would it be good for table arrangements.
The book also has a pullout guide to carry around with you and contains a few checklists (including a “day of” checklist), spaces for vendor info and songlists, and also a resource guide for online associations that pertain to the wedding industry.
Lastly, the greatest feature of this book (I mean aside from all the great pictures) has got to be the large resource index in the back. Lists of websites for everything imaginable for planning your wedding. They have also included a resource list from the RealSimple website which includes more checklists and even lists of questions to ask the different vendors.
All in all this is an excellent planning resource. It’s very easy to read and look at and provides a lot of stimulus for planning a wedding unique and outside the box for any budget. And for a price tag of around $14, a total steal for the wealth of information it includes. A very small investment to help you make one of the most special days of your life RealSimple.
Jan
8
Bridal Shows!!!
Filed Under Planning Tips | Leave a Comment
One of the things that I was really excited about when Christine asked me to contribute to this blog was that I now have an excuse to attend all the bridal shows I want and not look or sound like an idiot to my friends. I absolutely love, love, love bridal shows. There is something buried inside me that just fights to get free when I hear that my hometown of Houston, TX is hosting a Bridal Extravaganza. I even considered trying to talk hubby into a second wedding for our 10 year anniversary just so I could go to the shows. So imagine my excitement when I realized I could go to the all the bridal shows I want and not feel guilty or out of place. I mean, it’s actually “work” right?
Well this weekend, I get to attend my first official “working” bridal show at the George R. Brown Convention Center here in Houston. As I was pondering fashion shows and cake samples, it occurred to me that a blog about national bridal show companies and some links on where to find some of these shows in your area would be fitting.
Great Bridal Expo’s lists their touring schedule through early May. When you click on the venue for the show, a list of venders attending the show comes up.
Bridal Trade Show has their schedule out through April and although the majority of their show are in New Jersey, there are a few more in the upstate area. Details for each show are listed as well as the ability to purchase tickets online.
Bridal Show Producers International (BSPI) is a bridal show trade association and lists bridal shows all over the country. Just roll your cursor over the shows listed to see where the show is and click to go to the shows own website.
Online Bridal Shows is a neat concept if you happen to live in an area where there are no bridal shows. It’s a virtual 3D bridal show that happens every Thursday from 12pm-10pm local time. There is a software download which is free to be able to view the shows but it only takes a few minutes to download and install. We have super fast techie geek internet access and the program pages take a little time to load so if you have dialup, this may not be the best option for you. Basically the whole thing runs like a first person video game, using the arrow keys to move through the “show”. When you enter, there is a map sign that will give you the basic “booth” layout in a sidebar. Rolling over the booths gives you the basic vendor info and clicking the booth brings you to the vendors virtual booth. From there, you click on what looks like a tv to start a video presentation and the sidebar turns into full information page about the company compleate with websites. Although, it lacks the excitement of actually being at a show, (not to mention no cake samples!!) it would be a great way for a bride who has no earthly clue where to begin to at least get some vendor ideas in her area. Call it the video game geek in me but I like this site. The more play with it, the more I like it. I mean, who could resist checking out a catering company called Popcorn Lady Productions (Atlanta) who specialized in carnival food and frozen drinks??
A search for “bridal shows” preceded by your area of the country will also yield a wealth of info as I found out there is more than one bridal show in Houston. Who knew?
Well this weekend I will be tasting cake samples, viewing fashion shows and interviewing brides-to-be, all in the name of bringing more info for you. Mmmmm cake…
Happy Planning
Jan
6
Honeymoon In… Costa Rica!
Filed Under Destination Weddings, Planning Tips | 2 Comments
There are certain questions every bride-to-be is asked as soon as she makes the announcement to the world that she is getting married. Of course, everyone asks to see “The Ring” and if she’s “Set a Date”. Other questions concern the where and what how of it all as well as the all important focal of the entire wedding, “The Dress”. One question that is asked though doesn’t concern the wedding at all and actually doesn’t take place until the whole thing is done with: the honeymoon. It’s a perfectly normal in-your-business question everyone asks and it seems like everyone I’ve talked to this year all had the same answer: Costa Rica.
I knew personally three brides this year who all took honeymoons there, I have four friends from work who left today to go for ten days (I would have happily gone along had they not been a rowdy group of boys and although hubby is pretty laid back, that would have been pushing it a little.), and a few weeks ago, hubby asked what I thought about CR as a family vacation destination this year. Having no knowledge of this little Central American hot spot, I decided to do a little digging and share what I found.
Costa Rica is indeed in Central America (I wasn’t sure at first since I haven’t had Geography in about 25 years) and nestled between Panama and Nicaragua. It claims coasts on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean which make it a mecca for beach goers, snorkelers and surfers. Almost 26% of the country is composed of conservation and nationally protected territory and it is divided into seven political provinces which are unique and diverse, each offering something for everyone.
San Jose, containing the capital city, is the most populated and located in the Central Plateau. It includes the Central Mountain Range and is home to national parks, forest reserves, and an abundance of coffee plantations.
Heredia is the smallest province and known for colonial heritage and architecture. It contains the Barva volcano in Braulio Carrillo National Park near the Central Valley.
Braulio Carrillo National Park
Guanacaste is known for cattle ranches and beaches and is considered the driest region. Located on the Pacific Ocean side, it is home to some of the best beach hotels in the world and if travelling between the months of October and March, is also a great place to witness the Leatherback turtle spawning season.
Sunset in Guanacaste
Puntarenas or the “Pearl of the Pacific” is the destination of many Panama Canal cruise ships but with its vast beaches, host some of the countries sweetest surf spots.
Cartago is the considered the Ancient Metropolis and has the most important examples of colonial art. This humid tropical region is made up of two mountain ranges, the Central and the Talamanca.
Alajuela is one of the most extensive provinces and is known as “The Land of Mangoes”. It shares a boundary with Nicaragua and is home to two of the most impressive and active volcanoes in the country.
Lastly, Limon is a natural paradise made up of a combination of dense jungles, imposing mountains and paradisiacal beaches. This area has the highest percentage of protected lands and while most are not “visitor accessible” there are licensed guides for hire who are allowed in certain areas. It’s Caribbean border is also a gathering spot for snorkelers from all over.
There are a few most asked questions that can be answered here.
Although you do need a passport, a visa is not required from most countries including the US and Canada. You must purchase a roundtrip ticket to be able to enter the country though. The currency is the Colon but US currency is widely accepted as well as most major credit cards. Most of the water is potable (which is okay for a shower) so you may want to drink bottled water while you’re there especially around the coastal areas.
Thinking about getting married there? A few things you’ll need to bring along: a birth certificate, an affidavit of single status, police record, valid passport, divorce decree (if applicable) and all documents need to follow an authentication procedure.
This is just a touch of what this wonderful country as to offer. More information can be found at the tourism website at www.visitcostarica.com and www.infocostarica.com.
Both websites include more info including hotel information and tour information as well. In doing a little research for myself, I also found that a family of four can stay at a moderately rated hotel in a suite or bungalow for as little as $200 a night or less. Some of the resorts offer amenities such as spas, tours, dining, and other activities built into the price including special honeymoon packages. Search around for the best bang for your buck. As far as paradise vacations go, this one gives you all without spending all which is one of it’s biggest appeals. The visitcostarica website also has a search section for where to stay and lists hotels ranked by sustainability and has a certification program for these eco-environmentally-friendly places to stay which I’ll be talking about more on Fresh Friday.
I’m beginning to understand why so many people are choosing this wonderful place to vacation and especially honeymoon. I can’t think of anything more romantic than a sunset walk on the Pacific Coast leading back to a candlelit dinner at a private bungalow on the beach. Happy Honeymooning!!
Dec
19
Welcome to Fresh Friday!
Filed Under Fresh Friday, Planning Tips | Leave a Comment
With all the trends appearing, disappearing and reappearing, one that seems to be growing steadily over the last couple of years is the eco-friendly wedding. Each Friday will now be dedicated to providing you with eco-friendly tips to make your wedding not only special to you but special to the environment as well. So sit back, brew some tea, and enjoy.
One eco-friendly trend I noticed even ten years ago when I was planning my wedding was recycled paper products. Everything from invitations to thank you cards and even customized napkins were available in recycled paper products. The problem was the cost. Ten years ago, these items were so scarce that cost was a problem as well as design. I was unwilling to pay $1000 for 100 very plain vanilla invitations, even handmade paper ones.
However, now with companies such as Naturally Ever After, Earthly Affair, and InvitationBoxGreen offering items with at least 30% post consumer fibers, Sustainable Forest Initiative (SFI) certified, Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, and Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) certified these choices are now more affordable as well as readily available in simple and more extravagant designs. Some companies even donate portions of their profits to certain environmental charities. A simple Google search for “eco-friendly wedding invitations” yielded dozens of companies to from which to choose. An inquiry at your local stationary store can also yield great results as more and more companies offer items containing post consumer fibers as well as cotton fiber papers as well which cuts down on deforeststation.
Another option for eco-friendly invites is handmade paper with embedded flower seeds. While a smidge more expensive than the traditional invite, these invitations do double duty. The recipient is treated not only to a lovely invite to your day but then has a lasting reminder of flowers. If the invites do make it to the landfill, they decompose into a beautiful spot in the middle of something not so beautiful.
If only everything disposable were embedded with flower seeds.
{WM!} Sponsors
Other Things
