...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

The Cake.  The Details.  The Color.  The Pearls.  The Ruffles.  The Flowers.  The Tiers.  The Topper.  The Fabulousness!!!  Today's stunning Pin it Pic By LuLu Custom Cake Boutique in New York is none other than spectacular and would be the WOW FACTOR centerpiece of ANY wedding reception! Enjoy!!!

Until next time...PIN IT and Wedologize!

(photo credit - http://scarsdale.everythinglulu.com)

Ten Mistakes Couples Make About Money

The recession has put a strain on wedding planning.  But through the engagement process, the idea is to make smart budgetary decisions.  This will certainly alleviate one of the biggest wedding planning problems...STRESS.  Check out the mistakes to avoid making when planning your wedding:

1. Asking unreliable family members or friends to take on wedding day tasks only to have them botched.
2. Planning to caterer the wedding and/or bake your wedding cake yourself.
3. Ordering your wedding gown with the delivery close to your wedding date.  Plan for delays. They do happen.
4. Hiring the first vendor instead of researching other options.
5. Not asking for referrals
6. Waiting to long to book ceremony and/or reception sites and vendors.
7. Not reading contracts thoroughly.
8. Making decisions in hast or out of frustration.
9. Planning too elaborate a wedding for the amount of preparation time or finances.
10. Being unorganized.

Thanks to Chicago Wedding Resource for such a thoughtful list!

Until next time...WEDologize!

Cake For The Groom

I, of course, love a groom's cake!  It's another way for me to place an awesome piece of confection somewhere within the reception environment.  But what is this "groom's cake" idea?  It's a tradition created in the South where the bride would gift her groom a small cake.  The cake would be dark in color... chocolate or liquor-soaked...since the wedding cake was typically white like the gown she was wearing.  Today, you'll see groom's cakes in all kinds of shapes and sizes reflecting the groom's hobbies, lifestyle or career.  Check out some of these pretty cool groom's cakes!

You could display the groom's cake along with the wedding cake during the reception, have it cut and served as dessert or have it displayed on a sweets table.  Also consider serving it at the rehearsal dinner.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit: tuxedo - http://mimisgarden.blogspot.com; 2 tier cake - www.theknot.com; Steelers - www.hudsoncakery.com; tool belt - www.delish.com; trailer - www.weddingbee.com)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

Today isn't about a large picture depicting a stunning tablescape, but the Pin It Pic for Friday, June 22nd shows the fabulous details of a tablescape via an ivory napkin and gold charger!  Colin Cowie, one of the most fabulous wedding designers on the planet, pulled this place setting together with five very simple letters....B.L.I.N.G.!  Love it!!!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!!!


(photo credit - Duke Photography, Pasadena, CA)

Popping Summer-Time Event Treats

Today is the longest day if the year...and what maybe the hottest day of the year thus far...Summer Solstice...the official first day of summer. So instead of trying to think of a creative way to include one of my favorite summer treats into some descriptive words, I decide to allow the visuals to accomplish that task. Enjoy!

Pops & Champagne

Gourmet Pops

Mojito Pops & Cute Straws

Fruit Pops

Push Pops

Happy 1st Day of Summer!!!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: Lauryn Galloway; www.brides.com Photo: Courtesy of Viviane Perényi; www.popshoponline.com; www.bellaeats.com; Phindy Studios)

Accessorizing the Wedding Cake

When selecting your wedding cake, either from a photo or from an actual visit with a cake designer, there are some things that you should consider.  Question - Outside of selecting the cake flavor, filling and decorative frosting, what types of design can be offered to make this cake not only taste good, but look wonderful? So let's think about designing this gorgeous piece of confection from BOTTOM to TOP. 

Your wedding cake will be put on some type of base for easy transport, typically silver or gold, but if you want to give the cake more height, consider placing it up on a decorative cake stand or pedestal.
 

When selecting the actual design components, will you use fresh flowers or sugar flowers over an actual patterned design?  Both will offer elegance to your cake, but the cost difference is major.  Fresh flowers will always be less in cost than using actual sugar flowers.

How about adding some colored ribbon to your wedding cake tiers?  There are so many variety of ribbons (satin, grosgrain, sheer, wired, etc.) that the options and positioning are limitless.

Now what bride doesn't love a little BLING?  Adding bling to a wedding cake can take on so many different forms...from banding each or every other tier, adding bling brooch details or a burst of bling and crystals shooting out of the top tier.

And as you reach the top tier of the wedding cake, ask yourself...do I want a topper?  Know that toppers can be all sort of items...a cluster of fresh or sugar flowers, a bride and groom, an initial monogram or almost any thing you can think of.  Check out our blog post devoted to cake toppers.

Last, if your wedding cake isn't going to be served as dessert or sliced and displayed on a dessert buffet, make sure you have some fun packaging for your guests to take their yummy treat home.  Check out how DE suggests you "bag" wedding cake.
 

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credits: fresh flowers - http://linzievents.com/tag/wedding-cakes/; sugar flowers - www.weddingcakes.com/; ribbon - http://artofdessert.blogspot.com/; bling - www.rockwellsbakery.com; LOVE topper - www.etsy.com; base - www.sweetandsaucyshop.com)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

This photo has captured the epitome of this STUNNING wedding gown by designer Galia Lahav!!!  Not only is the train magnificent, but the low back with bow detailing is to die for!!!  Just GLORIOUS!!! ENJOY!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!!!

(photo credit - www.dresssafari.com)

Changing From Miss to Mrs

You've planned your fabulous wedding day, returned from your honeymoon and now it's time to change your last name to your groom's or partner's.  I know the question is...where the heck do I begin??!?!  Well there are companies out there like Miss Now Miss that will assist you in the name change process for what I consider to be a very low fee.  But should you want to take the leap yourself, below are some major areas that require the name change:

• Social security card
• Driver’s license
• Banking information
• Checks
• Credit Cards
• Passport
• Health insurance
• Insurance cards (auto, home etc)
• Utility companies
• Payroll – Talk to HR
• Business cards
• Email signature

Until next time...WEDologize!

(excerpt from Stay At Home Susie; photo credit - www.rushphotobiz.com)

My Dream 39th Birthday Celebration

As I wake up smiling this morning in celebration of my 39th birthday, I said to myself, "Self, if I were to have a birthday party...how would I celebrate?"  Well I see an intimate affair with about 15 of my closest friends and their spouse/partner.  The environment would be a loft-style space with a wonderful patio or deck over looking downtown Chicago.  The color scheme is red, black and platinum and all my fabulous guest MUST be dressed to the nine in their sexiest formalwear.  Champagne and wine from the bar would be flowing and we'd dine from 3-4 stations of my favorite fair.  And of course I'd have to have the most over-the-top birthday cake and desserts that would have my guests taste buds in a frenzy!!!  Then after all the laughter and fun as ended...me and my Boo Thang would head to O'hare for our 5 day get-away to Maui :)

But their will be no birthday party for me due my crazy schedule, but regardless...I'm so very thankful for seeing another year!!!

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit:  cake - http://verusca.deviantart.com; dress - www.tumblr.com; necklace - www.katespade.com; shoe - Oskar Alvarado; tablescape - www.wedlux.com; drink - www.resepiibamku.blogspot.com; candles - www.stylemepretty.com; mini cakes - www.sprinklebakes.com)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday!

Some of most glamorous wedding cakes are dripping with sugar flowers, but this Pin it Pic is uber stunning with the fresh hydrangea and orchids!  I'm in awe of this 3-tired wedding cake...standing in all it's glory...as fresh flowers drip down the sides...falling onto the base of the display...oh and take a peek at the brooch detail to the right! STUN! NING!!!

 
Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.insideweddings.com - Spring 2012 Issue)

The Role of Wedding VIPs

I spoke with one of my brides recently who eliminated a couple of women from her wedding party for "failure to act".  Basically, she didn't feel they were doing what needed to be done, and although I know she's been open with the ladies she selected to be in her wedding, do all involved really understand the roles they are to play?  Below is a sampling of the attendants duties.  And please know, everyone doesn't have to stand up for you on wedding day.  There are plenty of other things they can do on wedding day...but I'll save that conversation for another blog post :)

Maid of Honor (Single) or Matron of Honor (Married)

• Attending bridal gown fittings
• Keep bridesmaids on schedule prior to wedding day and especially on the BIG day
• Take charge of planning the bridal shower with the other bridesmaids
• Hold the bride's bouquet at the altar and fix her train and veil during the ceremony, and bustle her train at the reception

Best Man

• Drive the groom to the ceremony
• Hold the bride's ring during the ceremony
• Give first toast at the reception
• Distribute payments to vendors at the ceremony and/or reception

Bridesmaids

• Play hostess at any of the pre-wedding parties the couple may be having
• Order and pay for your own attire by order date
• Arrive to the ceremony before time to assist bride

Groomsmen

• Rent or purchase formalwear by requested date
• Help with pre-wedding tasks such as transportation
• Act as ushers if the couple does not have any on wedding day

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit - www.dscphotobiz.com)

Wedding Day "Forget-ables"

There are plenty of good resources, both online and in print, that discuss lists, time lines, to-do's, etc. for planning your wedding.  But when planning out your budget, there are some things that couples tend forget or wait until the last minute to even consider.  Once you have booked all the BIG vendors (venue, photographer, videographer, florist, stationery designer, musical entertainment) make sure to note these items on your budget to-do list...I so eloquently named them...The Forget-ables:

Vendor meals.  It's customary, although not mandatory, to provide vendors that are on-site with you longer than 6 hours a "vendor" meal.  The vendors to include are: wedding coordinators, photographer, videographer and DJ or Band.  A vendor meal is not the meal + bar provided to your wedding guests, so make sure to ask the banquet manager/facilitator about meals for those services providers.

Snacks in the bridal suite.  Yes, the bride, groom, and their bridal party members are sure to need a little nourishment while getting all dolled up for wedding day.  Have some snacks, juice and water on-site so that no one becomes ill during this long, but wonderful day.

Gratuity.  It's up to you what you'd like to tip your service providers, but if they do a good job, consider blessing them with a token of appreciation.  Check out our blog devoted to gratuities.

Midnight Snack.  Many caterers offer midnight snack ideas for your wedding guests, but make sure to have a plan in mind for how you and your husband/wife will eat before calling it a night.  Trust me...you will be hungry.

Until next time...WEDologize!

(photo credit -  www.dscphotobiz.com)

...I Found It, You Pin It...Friday

The first Pin it Pic of June 2012 is simply HAUTE!!!  The bride wore black and the feather detailing on the bodice just sent this amazing dress into the couture stratosphere! Seriously...how stunning are the pick-ups and the airy fabric of this gorgeous wedding gown?!?! WOW Factor indeed!!! Enjoy!

Until next time...PIN IT and WEDologize!

(photo credit: http://www.stylemepretty.com/gallery/picture/494235; http://amandakphotoart.com)