Let 'Em Eat Wedding Cake!

For those that know me...know that I'm a cake junkie! I just love the taste and smell of sweet confections and in my opinion, it's doesn't get any better than the centerpiece of the wedding reception - THE WEDDING CAKE. So for the remainder of the May, I'm dedicating the WEDology Blog to wedding cakes and desserts at the reception.

Below are some beautiful cakes I stumbled upon on http://www.theknot.com/ with green and orange accents, and the cost effect use of fresh flowers. Note: any time you want to cut down on your cake budget, opt for fresh flowers over sugar flowers. The flowers are typically provided by your florist once you give them a sketch of your wedding cake and some times are discounted since you have already purchased your ceremony and reception flowers through them.

Until next time...WEDologize!

10 Years In The Biz!!!

Sorry, but I took a brief hiatus to continue planning and then hosting the Dejanae Events 10th year in the business celebration. I've posted pictures on Facebook, but I decided as a tribute and a way of saying thanks, that I wanted to share with you the fabulous vendors that assisted me with the celebration.

On Friday, April 23rd, over 80 family, friends and colleagues came out to celebrate at Ven Sherrod's Photography studio from 6-9pm. Check out Ven's website at http://www.vsphoto.com/ to learn of his loft studio space for your rental needs. But also view his portfolio to see one of Chicago's premier photographers awesome work. The photos provided in this blog (well most of them :) were taken by him and are much appreciated. Thanks Ven!

During the week of the celebration, I launched the newly redesigned website and logo (well actually that was debuted in February) for the world the see. I have to give thanks to Christy Toney of CT Designs for all her hard and generous work for bringing the Dejanae Events look to life. Check her out at http://www.ct-designs.com/ as this custom invitation designer and calligraphist stands out above the rest.

In addition to his fabulous toast to me, LeVern Danley, owner of LAD4 Creations, made a wonderful video clip of several of the weddings we have worked together on over the years. LeVern is such a professional in the business and can be found at http://www.lad4creations.com/. Check him out for media services because his service is impeccable!

Now I received so many compliments on the food and bar menu and I owe thanks to 4 Generations Catering for creating such a swank menu and providing awesome service!! Tiffany Fulton's talents should be announced to the world! Check her company out at http://www.cooking4generations.com/. Oh and can I tell you, she set up a wonderful display of Buffalo Chicken Meatballs, Vegetable Skewers, Whole Grilled Chicken Wings and Fruit and Cheese Kabobs! And Terisita, the bartender-extraordinaire, finished off with the "Deja-Tini"...a martini of vodka, pomegranate and blue raspberry fruit juice infusions and a green grape for color. Want a professional and lovely-spirited bartender, reach out to her at katiemae2@comcast.com. One of the largest rental companies, if not the largest, Classic Party Rental provided the cabaret tables, hiboys and walnut wood folding chairs. Their detailed site can be found at http://www.classicpartyrental.com/. The tables were draped by a lovely designer that I just recently met - Enchanting Events Created by Angie. With her use of purple and sage green, she brought the business colors to life and totally rocked the space! E-mail Angie at amoten2@yahoo.com for a list of all her services.

The live entertainment was provided by The Chris Greene Duo and although I literally just meet him the evening before the event (don't ask :), he was so professional and my guests LOVED his music. What a wonderful musician! Check him out at http://www.chrisgreenejazz.com/. And I can never forget the DJ, that although he could not attend due to a previous engagement, made some CD's of my favorite songs to pipe through the surround after the musicians departed. DJ Bo rocks and you can find him on Facebook/DJBo.

Last, but never least, I have to give a big shout out and many, many thanks to Bob, the owner of Rosemary's Garden, for the 10+ dramatic centerpieces he created for my cocktail party. Using hydrangea, calla lilies, roses, irises, dendrobium and cymbidium orchids...just to name a few... literally brought me to tears. High, low and submerged floral arrangements simply completed the elegant look I was hoping for. Check out Rosemary's Garden at http://www.rosemarysgardenbridal.com/ and tell him Desiree' sent you.

Once again thanks to the talented vendors who assisted in making this milestone such a success! I could not have done it without you and I'm so very thankful for each of you!!!

Until next time...WEDologize!

Addressing Etiquette and Assembly

Now that you have selected your beautiful invitation ensemble and they are in your possession, it's time to assemble those invitations and get them in the mail! The first thing you want to do is take a completely assembled invitation, including enclosures and the envelopes, to the post office to get it weighed for mailing. Most invitations will cost at minimum $1.05 to mail and can require additional postage do to weight and shape. This amount will include the outer envelope postage and the reply card envelope postage, so remember to include this cost in your stationary budget.

Now you need to get your best girlfriends together and plan an "invitation assembly" day...the more help the merrier! If your invitation suite contains the following components - outer envelope, invitation, reception card, reply card and envelope - they should be assembled in the following fashion:

From top to bottom
Invitation
Reception Card
Reply Card (tucked under the flap of the reply envelope)
Reply Card envelope (and don't forget to adhere postage)
Additional inserts such as Direction or Accommodation Card
...Then place these components into the INNER envelope
...Finally you will place the stuffed inner envelope into the outer envelope flap-to-flap and adhere postage.

Rather you are hiring a calligraphist to address the outer envelope or using labels or writing them your self, there are certain rules of etiquette that you should consider:

• Avoid nicknames or abbreviations unless you are using the following salutations - Mr., Mrs., Ms., Miss, Dr., Rev., Jr., Senior, Roman Numerals, etc.
• Use full titles when addressing the military
• It is okay to use a First initial if you do not have the full first name
• City, State and Numbered Streets are spelled out
• Avoid the phrase "and family" but instead list everyone who is invited in the household on the inner envelope
• Both the names of two unmarried people living in the same household should appear on the envelopes
• Your return address should appear on the back flap of the outer envelope

Until next time...WEDologize!

Dress Up Your Envelopes

I've written a couple of blogs about wedding invitations, but this time we are going to focus on the outer envelope and postage. I ran across a company called Perfect Postage and have began following their Tweets. With permission, I have posted one of their informative articles below...

You may have already seen one show up in your mailbox. If not, you will soon. Personalized wedding stamps add the "wow" factor - and brides across the country are taking notice.

Since the Post Office allowed customized stamps, thousands of brides across the country have stamped their invitations with their own personal touch.



So where do you find great wedding stamps?

Listed on the USPS website are several wedding stamps - the 44 cent wedding rings and the 61 cent wedding cake stamp. With this ring ... Here is the 44 cent stamp with two gold wedding rings. Photographed by Renée Comet of Washington, DC, the rings rest on a small white pillow united by a slender ribbon of white silk. 3 tier Wedding Cake Stamp -


The 61 cent stamp features a wedding cake with intricate scroll design on the fondant. Sure to add a touch of beauty and romance to wedding correspondence, the 2009 Wedding Cake stamp is being issued at the two-ounce mailing rate in order to accommodate the heavier weight of an invitation.
You should be able to find these at your local post office. If not, call toll-free at 1-800-STAMP-24 or shop online.

If these don't suit your taste, you do have options.

Create your own or choose a pre-designed stamp from thousands on the web. When choosing a custom stamp, you'll pay a bit more. A sheet of 20 1st class 44 cent stamps from the post office is $8.80. A sheet of 20 custom stamps from Zazzle runs about $18.00 when you buy in bulk (10 sheets or more). If you buy only one sheet, the price goes up to anywhere from $19 to $22. If the cost of custom postage for ALL your invitations is out of reach, you can purchase just one or two sheets for special wedding guests. (Note to scrapbookers: one sheet of stamps fits perfectly in a standard scrapbook page.)

There are thousands of beautiful postage designs available - one sure to match your colors, flowers, monogram or even destination! Many graphic designers will work with you personally to create that special look that will make your envelope pop.

Colorful calla lily love from Perfect Postage is one example of customized postage. This vibrant gold, orange and red calla lily bouquet make a dramatic postage stamp. No matter what your theme, colors or design, you can have the "Perfect Postage" for your wedding correspondence.



Read more: http://www.perfectpostage.com/

Until next time...WEDologize!

Upcoming April Events

Happy Monday! I know the planning process can be a little daunting, so today's blog will showcase some of the upcoming bridal events for the month of April. Hopefully you'll be able to squeeze one or two into your busy scheduled.


April 2nd - April 3rd
Bride's Aganist Breast Cancer Gown Sale
10am - 6pm
Wyndam Chicago
http://www.bridesaganistbreastcancer.org/
**General sale is FREE


Bridal Expo Chicago
http://www.bridalshowexpo.com/
12pm - 4pm
Limited FREE tickets 847.428.3320 x221 or $10 after promo/$15 at door
April 11th - DoubleTree Hotel, Oak Brook
April 18th - Stonegate Banquets & Conference Center, Hoffman Estates
April 25th - Georgio's Banquets, Orland Park


Complete Wedding Expo Bridal Show
http://www.completeweddingexpo.com/
12pm - 3pm
April 11th - Renaissance O'Hare
April 18th - Crown Plaza Hotel, Glen Ellyn

Remember what I told you in a previous blog, when attending bridal shows...make it easy on yourself. Make labels that you can stick on the vendor info sheets that include: your name, grooms name, wedding date, mailing address, e-mail address and phone number. It'll save your hand!


Until next time...WEDologize!

Say It Nicely...

When preparing your invitation ensemble and the wording to excite your guests about the upcoming nuptials, there are some things you should pay close attention to:

If there are parental contributions, be respectful and discuss the invitation verbiage with your parents. The norm use to be that the bride's parents were the hosts of the wedding and reception and therefore, their names appeared on the invitation. Not always the case anymore. The groom's parents my be contributors or the bride and groom might be funding the nuptials themselves.

Listing your registry information or stating to your guests that you only want monetary gifts (wishing well) within your invitation ensemble is poor etiquette. That type of information can be expressed verbally through parents, bridal party members, or list it on your wedding website.

Mail your invitations at minimum 8 weeks before your wedding date with the respond date listed 2-3 weeks before the wedding date. This will allow enough time to get those infamous seating arrangements together.

Spell out all dates, times and places on the wedding invitations. Example - Saturday, May twenty-ninth, Two thousand and ten, Four-thrity in the afternoon, Swissotel Chicago.

If you are not inviting children to the wedding reception, it is appropriate to say "Adult Reception" or address the invitation to the parents only - "Mr. & Mrs. Doug Johnson" instead of "Johnson Family".

It's a thoughtful gesture to allow single individuals to bring a guest by stating "Miss Brenda Douglas and Guest", but if you can't afford the additional plate, don't sweat it...invite just Brenda.

Until next time...WEDologize!

Photo credit - http://www.ct-designs.com/

Tip Top Shapin' It Up!

Monday's blog is for the ladies that want to get in shape before their big day...or just want to start leading a more healthier lifestyle. Learn about the "Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty!!!

CRAVE Chicago will host the “Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty,” a fresh beauty and wellness event hosted by CRAVE Chicago and sponsored by Beauty on Call, Glossed & Found, lululemon athletica and Vitamin Water. This vibrant day of rejuvenation will take place on March 28th (1-6PM) at Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood, in Chicago). A CRAVEparty is an exclusive, glam-gal gathering for fun, entertainment, networking, personal pampering, relaxinʼ and feelin’ good.

The Bloom & Tone CRAVEparty will offer Chicagolandʼs ladies one destination for a fun, beauty and wellness filled afternoon. Upon registering, guests will choose four 30-minute fitness classes to try, from eight options, on March 28th. Options will include a 30-minute session with The Dailey Method or Harmony Mind Body Fitness, for example. Each fitness class will be spaced by 30-minute free-time sessions that will inspire party-goers to indulge in mini-spa services, shop in lululemon athletica’s pop-up store, relax in the CRAVE Cooldown Lounge, engage & learn from a nutritionist, pep-up their wardrobe with a style coach, try delicious & healthy snacks from Starfruit and others…and more!

Tickets are available for $25 at http://thecravecompany.com/chicago/events/bloom-tone-craveparty/ and will not be sold at the door. All guests will receive a complimentary goody bag brimming with goodies and sponsored by lululemon athletica.

Until next time...WEDologize!