A Cinderella Castle Near You!
If you are planning on having a Cinderella Fairy Tale Wedding you know that: the fairytale wedding starts with draping, and lots of it: draped walls, head tables, cake tables, sweetheart tables, you name it.
Like other fantasy weddings, the fairytale wedding starts with draping, and lots of it: draped walls, head tables, cake tables, sweetheart tables, you name it.
Other ingredients: lots of silver (candelabras, silver cake plateaus), plenty of pinks, classical symbols (swan or double-swan ice sculptures are perfect here), and pearl or rhinestone accents as brooches or bouquet ornaments, and buckets and buckets of rose petals.
Plus, every princess bride needs a really cute card box, whether it be a magic pumpkin or a sassy hot-pink hat box. A giant Storybook guest book would be a cute touch, too.
This theme pretty much determines where you'll hold the reception: a ballroom. Unless, that is, you're lucky enough to be able to book an actual castle, or live near one of America's castle-style buildings.
At (http://www.dupontcastle.com/castles/index) you can check out all the castles in the united states and see if there is one close to you to use on your wedding day. this . The site provides general information about the castles and contact information.
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Ideas for Personalizing your Wedding
1. Float edible petals in cocktails, or add colorful candy sticks as stirrers.
2. If you have the time, a personalized note on each escort card will surely make an impression! Guests will not forget being welcomed at your wedding with a handwritten note. It also makes for a nice keepsake.
3. Heirloom Cake Toppers: It's your something borrowed. For added meaning and uniqueness, ask your baker to create a layer using the same flavors as your parents/his parents, grand parents, etc, the origional owners of the cake topper.
4. As a nice surprise for your Bridesmaids, add a single flower that signifies your relationship or feelings about that person with the flowers meaning.
For Instance:
a. For the bridesmaid who has always made you seen the good in any situation: Calla Lilies, symbolizing Beauty.
b. For your childhood friend who has been by your side from the first crush to the last: Purple Lilacs, symbolizing First Love.
c. For your sister: Blue Violets, like the flowers meaning indicates, she has always been your most faithful friend.
1. Float edible petals in cocktails, or add colorful candy sticks as stirrers.
2. If you have the time, a personalized note on each escort card will surely make an impression! Guests will not forget being welcomed at your wedding with a handwritten note. It also makes for a nice keepsake.
3. Heirloom Cake Toppers: It's your something borrowed. For added meaning and uniqueness, ask your baker to create a layer using the same flavors as your parents/his parents, grand parents, etc, the origional owners of the cake topper.
4. As a nice surprise for your Bridesmaids, add a single flower that signifies your relationship or feelings about that person with the flowers meaning.
For Instance:
a. For the bridesmaid who has always made you seen the good in any situation: Calla Lilies, symbolizing Beauty.
b. For your childhood friend who has been by your side from the first crush to the last: Purple Lilacs, symbolizing First Love.
c. For your sister: Blue Violets, like the flowers meaning indicates, she has always been your most faithful friend.
Happy 2008!
Weddings this year which take place on 8.8.2008 are supposed to surpass the weddings of last year on 7.7.2007.
In Chinese communities around the world, eight is considered the most fortuitous of numbers, making it much coveted for addresses, phone numbers and bank accounts."
The word for "eight" in Chinese (Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means "prosper" or "wealth".
There is also a resemblance between two digits, "88", and the shuang xi ('double joy'), a popular decorative design composed of two stylized characters (xi, 'joy', 'happiness').
Some people also think that 8 can be associated with the symbol meaning infinity (an 8 turned 90 degrees).
The Summer Olympics are scheduled to open on 8/8/08 at 8:08:08 p.m.
**Instead of serving the traditional three-or four-course meal at the reception, consider taking a cue from the Chinese and serve eight small dishes.
Weddings this year which take place on 8.8.2008 are supposed to surpass the weddings of last year on 7.7.2007.
In Chinese communities around the world, eight is considered the most fortuitous of numbers, making it much coveted for addresses, phone numbers and bank accounts."
The word for "eight" in Chinese (Pinyin: bā) sounds similar to the word which means "prosper" or "wealth".
There is also a resemblance between two digits, "88", and the shuang xi ('double joy'), a popular decorative design composed of two stylized characters (xi, 'joy', 'happiness').
Some people also think that 8 can be associated with the symbol meaning infinity (an 8 turned 90 degrees).
The Summer Olympics are scheduled to open on 8/8/08 at 8:08:08 p.m.
**Instead of serving the traditional three-or four-course meal at the reception, consider taking a cue from the Chinese and serve eight small dishes.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Tips on: Seating your Guests
If you have a small, informal reception, you may not feel you need a seating plan. However, for large numbers, or a sit down meal, both you and your guests may benefit from a seating chart. The wedding meal may last for 2-3 hours and is a significant part of the day. If your guests are sitting with people they get along with, it will make a big difference to their overall enjoyment of the day!
The traditional head table:
Groomsmen-bridesmaid-Best Man-Bride-Groom-Maid of Honor-groomsmen-bridesmaid
While the traditional head table is still favored by most, alternatives are often being used such as including parents and clergy. Some are even including partners of the bridal party which works nice if you are using a Sweetheart table.
Seating tables with just one family group will let them relax, but it will not do much to encourage mingling. However, a table where no one knows anyone else might be a bit daunting for most people. Try and arrange a mix on each table-so everyone knows a few people. By thinking about guests' ages and interests you can make sure that each table is likely to get on and have fun!
Where to sit singles can also create a dilemma. On one hand you might try out a little match-making, but on the other, this could be rather uncomfortable and awkward for your guests. Certainly avoid a 'Singles Table'.
We have all been to weddings that we attended without an escort, knowing only the bride or a few members of the family and were either seated at the 'singles table' or seating was a free for all. What memory of the wedding did you leave with?
By seating your guests appropriately they can see that you took the time on your special day to think of them to make sure they enjoyed themselves. It is little details like this that go a long way to your guests and will ensure that everyone will remember your wedding with warm thoughts.
If you have a small, informal reception, you may not feel you need a seating plan. However, for large numbers, or a sit down meal, both you and your guests may benefit from a seating chart. The wedding meal may last for 2-3 hours and is a significant part of the day. If your guests are sitting with people they get along with, it will make a big difference to their overall enjoyment of the day!
The traditional head table:
Groomsmen-bridesmaid-Best Man-Bride-Groom-Maid of Honor-groomsmen-bridesmaid
While the traditional head table is still favored by most, alternatives are often being used such as including parents and clergy. Some are even including partners of the bridal party which works nice if you are using a Sweetheart table.
Seating tables with just one family group will let them relax, but it will not do much to encourage mingling. However, a table where no one knows anyone else might be a bit daunting for most people. Try and arrange a mix on each table-so everyone knows a few people. By thinking about guests' ages and interests you can make sure that each table is likely to get on and have fun!
Where to sit singles can also create a dilemma. On one hand you might try out a little match-making, but on the other, this could be rather uncomfortable and awkward for your guests. Certainly avoid a 'Singles Table'.
We have all been to weddings that we attended without an escort, knowing only the bride or a few members of the family and were either seated at the 'singles table' or seating was a free for all. What memory of the wedding did you leave with?
By seating your guests appropriately they can see that you took the time on your special day to think of them to make sure they enjoyed themselves. It is little details like this that go a long way to your guests and will ensure that everyone will remember your wedding with warm thoughts.
Wedding facts/Trivia for 2007 taken fromPeople Magazine July 2007 Issue
Stats of the Union:
Average cost of a Wedding: $27, 690
Average length of an Engagement: 17 Months
Average age of a Groom: 27
Number of Weddings in the U.S. in 2006: 2,155,000
Texas is estimated to play host to the most weddings this year: 191, 072
North Dakoda will have the fewest with 4,192
The longest wedding dress train measured 3,949.8 feet and was worn in Caudry France, on Aug. 5, 2006
Around 116,000 weddings take place in Las Vegas each year
The average number of wedding guests is 167
Average price of an engagement ring: $2,100
Average price of a wedding band: $650
Average number of weddings taking place in the U.S. every day: 5,904
The World's most expensive nuptials on record: $60,000,000
That's how much Billionaire Lakshmi paid for his daughter Vanisha's 2004 wedding.
The most expensive wedding dress on record was laced with 150 Carats of Diamonds. It was created by dressmaker Renee Strauss and jeweler Martin Katz. To date it remains unsold.
Stats of the Union:
Average cost of a Wedding: $27, 690
Average length of an Engagement: 17 Months
Average age of a Groom: 27
Number of Weddings in the U.S. in 2006: 2,155,000
Texas is estimated to play host to the most weddings this year: 191, 072
North Dakoda will have the fewest with 4,192
The longest wedding dress train measured 3,949.8 feet and was worn in Caudry France, on Aug. 5, 2006
Around 116,000 weddings take place in Las Vegas each year
The average number of wedding guests is 167
Average price of an engagement ring: $2,100
Average price of a wedding band: $650
Average number of weddings taking place in the U.S. every day: 5,904
The World's most expensive nuptials on record: $60,000,000
That's how much Billionaire Lakshmi paid for his daughter Vanisha's 2004 wedding.
The most expensive wedding dress on record was laced with 150 Carats of Diamonds. It was created by dressmaker Renee Strauss and jeweler Martin Katz. To date it remains unsold.
Friday, November 2, 2007
Your Budget
Agree on a vision: Sit down with your fiancé and agree on the month, size, formality, and style of your wedding.
Put together your guest list: The number of invitees will determine the size and cost of your event. Create a Guest list in Excell. This spreadheet will allow you to track invitations sent and R.S.V.P's recieved, gifts recieved, and Thank You's sent
Decide on a budget: Agree on how much you're willing to spend and find out if family members are willing to contribute. Create a Spreadsheet in Excell or use a free spreadsheet tool which can be found on many wedding plannning websites. These tools can be customized as not all weddings are the same. Revies the spreadsheet and keep the items you feel you will need. Delete the items from the list that are not needed and add those that are. You can use this tool everytime you recieve a quote, make a deposit or a payment. It will allow you to track the items you have purchased, those yet to be purchased and your overall balance. Be sure to leave 10% of your budget as a cushion on all your expenses and for the bottom line. You are bound to under estimate and over estimate some costs. Treat it as an initial purchase so that it is deducted from your budget immediately. Don't forget to add sales tax and gratuity where appropriate. **The key to watching your bottom line is to make sure you record every purchase, quote, deposit and payment, either by check or credit card. Slacking off in this department is a good way to overspend.
Create a planning notebook: Tear out clippings and print online photos of everything you like, and save them in a binder by category. Take this notebook on every shopping outing you go on it will be easier to tell your florist what you like and do not like if you have pictures to show him/her. Save pictures of gowns, hairstyles, flowers, decorations, cakes, anything for your wedding that you will be looking to purchase.
Also in your notebook should be a copy of all your vendor contracts, a master sheet of your vendor names and phone numbers. Be sure to get cell numbers/pager numbers, an incase of emergency name and numbers (as some vendors will make their deliveries on Saturday and then be done for the day.) The name and number of the person who will be directly responsible for helping you.
Keep a copy of your budget spreadsheet in your notebook. While out shopping you will know your exact allowance for items such as favors at a quick glance.
A list of those in your wedding party with addresses and phone numbers. It is a good idea too to have their measurments (that have been taken by a seamstress or tailor) in case they are needed.
Agree on a vision: Sit down with your fiancé and agree on the month, size, formality, and style of your wedding.
Put together your guest list: The number of invitees will determine the size and cost of your event. Create a Guest list in Excell. This spreadheet will allow you to track invitations sent and R.S.V.P's recieved, gifts recieved, and Thank You's sent
Decide on a budget: Agree on how much you're willing to spend and find out if family members are willing to contribute. Create a Spreadsheet in Excell or use a free spreadsheet tool which can be found on many wedding plannning websites. These tools can be customized as not all weddings are the same. Revies the spreadsheet and keep the items you feel you will need. Delete the items from the list that are not needed and add those that are. You can use this tool everytime you recieve a quote, make a deposit or a payment. It will allow you to track the items you have purchased, those yet to be purchased and your overall balance. Be sure to leave 10% of your budget as a cushion on all your expenses and for the bottom line. You are bound to under estimate and over estimate some costs. Treat it as an initial purchase so that it is deducted from your budget immediately. Don't forget to add sales tax and gratuity where appropriate. **The key to watching your bottom line is to make sure you record every purchase, quote, deposit and payment, either by check or credit card. Slacking off in this department is a good way to overspend.
Create a planning notebook: Tear out clippings and print online photos of everything you like, and save them in a binder by category. Take this notebook on every shopping outing you go on it will be easier to tell your florist what you like and do not like if you have pictures to show him/her. Save pictures of gowns, hairstyles, flowers, decorations, cakes, anything for your wedding that you will be looking to purchase.
Also in your notebook should be a copy of all your vendor contracts, a master sheet of your vendor names and phone numbers. Be sure to get cell numbers/pager numbers, an incase of emergency name and numbers (as some vendors will make their deliveries on Saturday and then be done for the day.) The name and number of the person who will be directly responsible for helping you.
Keep a copy of your budget spreadsheet in your notebook. While out shopping you will know your exact allowance for items such as favors at a quick glance.
A list of those in your wedding party with addresses and phone numbers. It is a good idea too to have their measurments (that have been taken by a seamstress or tailor) in case they are needed.
Unique Decoration Item!
Wonderful Graffiti is very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look "printed" when applied to most smooth surfaces. Just tape the transfer paper into place, burnish it down and peel it away. Only the individual letters and graphic elements remain. Wonderful Graffiti removes quickly, and won't harm underlying surfaces. For a fee of $25.00 they will do your own favorite saying, design around your monogram, etc.
Use them on church and reception doors, dressing room doors, restroom mirrors, dance floors, bare walls and limosines.
The places you will find to place these are endless. http://www.wonderfulgraffitiwedding.com
(Below are just a few samples of some of their sayings.)
*Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres.Corinthians 13:4-7
*Hand in hand we will grow into the promise of tomorrow, taking with us the enchantment of this day.
*flowers radiate from the couple's names at the center of the dance floor.
*Your names, wedding date and time
*Thank You
Our day is happier because you're here.
(your names)
Wonderful Graffiti is very thin pieces of matte vinyl that look "printed" when applied to most smooth surfaces. Just tape the transfer paper into place, burnish it down and peel it away. Only the individual letters and graphic elements remain. Wonderful Graffiti removes quickly, and won't harm underlying surfaces. For a fee of $25.00 they will do your own favorite saying, design around your monogram, etc.
Use them on church and reception doors, dressing room doors, restroom mirrors, dance floors, bare walls and limosines.
The places you will find to place these are endless. http://www.wonderfulgraffitiwedding.com
(Below are just a few samples of some of their sayings.)
*Love is patient. Love is kind. It does not envy. It does not boast. It is not proud. It is not rude. It is not self-seeking. It is not easily angered. It keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth. It always protects. Always trusts. Always hopes. Always perseveres.Corinthians 13:4-7
*Hand in hand we will grow into the promise of tomorrow, taking with us the enchantment of this day.
*flowers radiate from the couple's names at the center of the dance floor.
*Your names, wedding date and time
*Thank You
Our day is happier because you're here.
(your names)
Neat Color Wheel Tool
Brides.com offers a neat Color Wheel Tool if you are undecided about what colors you want to use for your wedding or for finding colors that complement the color you have chosen, say Pink, this is a neat tool to find 2 complementing colors.
Spin their Color Wheel and you will find 3 colors that complement each other in either an Organic, Haronious or Dramatic way. Sample color combinations you will find are as follows:
Organic: Brown + Pink + Pearl
Pink + Cream + Wheat
Brown + Robin's Egg + Gold
Harmonious: Robin's Egg + Tourqoise + Aqua
Green + Aqua + Robin's Egg
Orange + Gold + Butter
Dramatic: Magenta + Orange + Gold
Lime + Pink + Butter
Orange + Midnight Blue + Butter
Brides.com offers a neat Color Wheel Tool if you are undecided about what colors you want to use for your wedding or for finding colors that complement the color you have chosen, say Pink, this is a neat tool to find 2 complementing colors.
Spin their Color Wheel and you will find 3 colors that complement each other in either an Organic, Haronious or Dramatic way. Sample color combinations you will find are as follows:
Organic: Brown + Pink + Pearl
Pink + Cream + Wheat
Brown + Robin's Egg + Gold
Harmonious: Robin's Egg + Tourqoise + Aqua
Green + Aqua + Robin's Egg
Orange + Gold + Butter
Dramatic: Magenta + Orange + Gold
Lime + Pink + Butter
Orange + Midnight Blue + Butter
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Yummy Fall Desserts!
Brioche Berry Puddings
(For 4 individual puddings ; inspired but adapted from an idea by Julie Le Clerc)You need:
4 slices of stale homemade brioche
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fine sugar
4 Tbsp heavy cream
4 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Berries
Steps:
Cut the brioches slices in long sticks and divide them between the molds lined with parchment paper (1 slice per mold, I used popover molds but you can use tall muffin molds).
Add a few berries, fresh or frozen.
Melt the butter and pour 1 Tbsp per mold.
Whip all other ingredients together in a bowl — eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and cream — and divide between the four molds.
Let the puddings rest for 20 to 30 min.
Preheat your oven at 330 F.
Place in the oven to cook for 25 to 30 min.
Remove and serve preferably lukewarm (but cooled is also good) .
Love the idea of little brown paper wrapped cupcakes for a wedding. You can wrap them in any color paper to acent your wedding colors. To view them on her site go to: http://www.latartinegourmande.com
Brioche Berry Puddings
(For 4 individual puddings ; inspired but adapted from an idea by Julie Le Clerc)You need:
4 slices of stale homemade brioche
1 cup milk
2 large eggs
1/4 cup fine sugar
4 Tbsp heavy cream
4 Tbsp melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
Berries
Steps:
Cut the brioches slices in long sticks and divide them between the molds lined with parchment paper (1 slice per mold, I used popover molds but you can use tall muffin molds).
Add a few berries, fresh or frozen.
Melt the butter and pour 1 Tbsp per mold.
Whip all other ingredients together in a bowl — eggs, sugar, milk, vanilla and cream — and divide between the four molds.
Let the puddings rest for 20 to 30 min.
Preheat your oven at 330 F.
Place in the oven to cook for 25 to 30 min.
Remove and serve preferably lukewarm (but cooled is also good) .
Love the idea of little brown paper wrapped cupcakes for a wedding. You can wrap them in any color paper to acent your wedding colors. To view them on her site go to: http://www.latartinegourmande.com
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