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Sample shots from my recent boudoir session in Austin, Texas with the fabulous Miss M. are now online over at Boudoir Mon Cheri! (Might not be work safe.) Lots of other sessions coming up to add to the blog! Holiday sessions are still available - be sure to check out the Holiday Specials and make someone extra happy!

On Friday, September 26, our power was *finally* restored at our house - which is also my primary workspace. (I shoot at the studio / office in the Heights and hold meetings there — but I do business work, proofing, preparing prints, all that stuff at the house.) My birthday was on Saturday, along with Erika & Jason’s wedding, so we didn’t actually pack up and return from my parent’s house until yesterday. This week prints will be going to the lab, DVDs will be burned, and everything will be going out in the mail. Thank you *SO MUCH* to everyone who was so patient…

Erika, Jason, their son Jase, along with Erika’s mom, and I had a ton of fun at their engagement session in the Woodlands, Texas. Well, most of it was fun — except for the fact the the shopping center security guard busted us and tossed us out! We were shooting at Market Street at 9am on a Sunday morning - a place that I and countless other photographers have shot at without anyone ever saying a thing - and he told us we couldn’t shoot there! Eep! He offered to give me a number to call to get permission — but I pointed out that early on a Sunday morning they…

I’ve been wrapped up in weddings and worrying about my brides & grooms that are dealing with Hurricane Ike issues, and then I heard from Mariae Bui of Pink Posh Photography about the Tuscany of Garden Oaks and Bella Terraza and the Displaced Brides due to the venues filing bankruptcy. Ack. How horrible to deal with Ike, only to find out that your venue has filed bankruptcy - leaving you in a lurch and without your initial payments to them! (You can learn more about the story on Channel 13 KTRK’s site.) She emailed me to ask if I would be interested in helping couples out -…

(Updated on Sept. 20, 2008, and again on Sept. 23, 2008) I thought a post was in order to let everyone know my status during Hurricane Ike: - My family is fine. - My house is fine. Tree limbs down, but none on the house. No power as of 9/23/08 (11 days so far), so we are staying with my parents who do have power. - None of us have internet access - not at my house or my parent’s house. My parents now have internet access. Yeah! I can only respond to email via my iPhone though, and it is somewhat tedious so I try to limit it. - I’m still working. Matter of fact, I’ve posted…

My mama is the one in our family who reminds the rest of us about special dates - birthdays, anniversaries, etc. I think this role is stealthily being handed down to me but it looks like I have a lot of work to do… because Mama Sea Breeze called me yesterday morning to remind me of our own anniversary! How on earth could I have forgotten? One year ago yesterday, Mr Breezy asked me to marry him… and in 41 days, I will. When I joined the hive, I told you about how we met, but I never did get around to telling you about how he proposed. As I found out after the fact, apparently, it was in…

Image © IN Photography The weeks leading up to the wedding were stressful on varying accounts, but that stress was only exacerbated by a variety of vendors that backed out on us. Yes, you heard that right backed-out! First, it was my hairstylist. Luckily, she had taken the initiative to already book me with another stylist. But the icing on the cake, so to speak, was our cake baker. A month before our wedding, I emailed and/or called all our vendors to confirm details, payments, and whatnot. I emailed our cake baker to confirm delivery time and last minute floral changes. This is the email I…

Details, details…you’ve seen the wedding of my friends Julie and Brian, but the details were pretty great! I’ll start from the beginning. The programs were pink and green, and tied with a raffia ribbon in a bow… As I mentioned before, the ceremony was surrounded with beachwood. At the head of the aisle, the couple added a personal touch with their names in the wood. Walking to the reception, I ran into another wedding, and being the stalker I am I took a picture… sorry, pretty bride! I had to! This was probably one of my favorite details of the reception. Instead of a…

6 years ago today, I went on my first date with Mr. Meatball. It was a drizzly, cold early autumn day in Milwaukee. He took me pottery painting, where we made a sushi plate with our faces on it along with a piece of avocado sushi, and painted a heart on the back between our initials. 1 year ago today, Mr. Meatball slipped a diamond ring upon my finger on the shore of the Sea of Cortez under a blanket of stars, and asked me to be his forever. Mr. Meatball, happy anniversary, my love. You brighten every moment of my life. Your love shines upon me and keeps me warm even in the darkest hours.

When it came to our cake, this is what I had in mind. In order to achieve this look, I purchased a mold from Decorate the Cake and brought it to our baker. She seemed pretty confident that she could pull it off. She even tested a bit while I waited to see how it would turn out. She planned to use the mold to create the design on each layer by removing sections. Hopefully, this would create a new design on each layer. It didn’t turn out exactly as I was hoping. The layers were quite thick, far from the delicate lace I was hoping for. I didn’t actually realize how poorly this was executed…

We’re all for good deeds, and some of them are a no-brainer. This isn’t necessarily wedding related, but really — when you’re planning a wedding, you definitely deserve a good massage! And definitely one that supports charity! Massage for the Cure will be taking place at Massage Envy locations throughout the US on the following dates: September 15, 2008 from 8am - 10pm: Phoenix/Tucson/Flagstaff, AZ Miami, FL Houston, TX North Carolina September 22, 2008 from 8am - 10pm: New Jersey October 6, 2008 from 8am - 10pm: Seattle/Tacoma, WA (Puget Sound Locations) From their…

Marriage isn’t always the happy bliss that we dream it will be leading up to our wedding day. That is the reality of life, and really - it is ok. But when is Reality really reality? Is Reality TV really real? Most of the times, it isn’t. A lot is left behind on the cutting room floor. There are still things we can learn from Reality TV couples though - as this article at HitchedMag points out. My favorite: Say what you mean, but no need to be mean with what you say. Your mother was right! If you don’t have anything nice to say… be quiet. Not something that often happens on…

Last time I wrote, I expressed my frustration with getting my wedding plans underway. After a long brainstorming session with Mr. C, we’ve decided to have our wedding cake and eat it three times. A small intimate ceremony and dinner in our current home town, followed by two fun parties: one in my home state, then one in his. Now, I’m interviewing venues and making plans to send out save the date cards. I’m having much more fun with this portion of the planning. Through out this process, Mr. C and I have been making effort to remember the main goal, to become husband and…

The 15 Minutes of Fame Returns! Anne-Marie & Chris were married at Zama Beach Club in Isla Mujeres, Mexico on April 30, 2007. The island is off the coast of Cancun, and they decided to leave their northern Washington home for a destination wedding because they wanted to elope and have only close family and friends at their wedding. Once they started their wedding planning, they decided that they wanted to go to a tropical location where they could scuba dive - making Isla Mujeres ideal! Anne-Marie & Chris met on April 30, 2005, Chris proposed to Anne-Marie with an absolutely…

Today’s post is part three of a three part series, courtesy of Darbi G. of Darbi G. Photography. Darbi is a recent bride in addition to being a wedding photographer herself. This gives her a very unique perspective on wedding planning. You can find her blog here. Stacy Reeves of Dallas, Texas provided the gorgeous photography. Be sure to read part 1 and part 2 of this series for other great suggestions on making your wedding photography fabulous! 7. Receptions should be the icing on the cake. This is the time in which you, as the bride and groom, can really make an impression. Good…

When you are a Mummy, you are ALWAYS the bad guy! I am always the one that has to say 'NO'.It is the word that comes up a million times throughout the day, I do wonder if my children will grow up to think I was some kind of parenting Hitler, who squashed all ideas of fun with one simple little word 'NO'.There seem to be varying degrees of 'No', Sometimes I find myself saying 'No' just because it is easy, It is easier to say no than have to explain why, is it not a parents perogative to just say 'No' without reason?Of course there are the loud slow motion 'NOOOOOOOO's you get when danger is…

If you are looking for a unique gift or Cakes to match your wedding theme, Look no further than Cupcakes to go, covering some parts of London for delivery and the whole of the UK by courier, They offer a fabulous range of Handmade cupcakes,They will personalise them for any occasion.Check out their website or call 07531050554 to make an order and don't forget to mention Almostabride!

Follow this link to the Peanut butter cookies I have made for my wounded soldiers guests!These are freezable and would make fabulous favours.

My three year old had an accident yesterday and is on complete bed rest so posts may be dry this week due to Motherly duties!She is doing really well and was more worried about the sandal that she had lost than the pain - Soooooooooooo her Mother's daughter!!!She is milking the attention now!A breakfast fit for a princess!

The word on the street (well according to Kellie @ she can't even cook) is that today is...So I have been practising my Arrrrgghhh's!And fiddling with the Jack Sparrow sound box!

A timeline will be the single most important document you will create for your wedding. Without a realistic timeline, your wedding may have unforeseen challenges and actually create more work for you (or your family) on your big day. As a wedding planner we create one master itinerary for our couples. The only time they will see this master plan is before the wedding. This document will  include both wedding party information and vendor information (which we like to call a production schedule). We personally like to color code because at the wedding any member of our team can easily glance…

Wow, this snuck up on me this year! Today is World Card Making Day. The purpose of WCMD is to bring together handmade card enthusiasts to share our ideas, techniques, and love of the craft. As an avid card-maker, this is one of my most sacred holidays. Besides projects for the upcoming DIY Bride book #2 my overworked brain has been obsessing about Xmas cards, baby announcements and thank you cards. In celebration of WCMD this weekend, I’ll be posting a great little thank you card that’s perfect for any occasion.

Head’s up, plus-size brides. Lane Bryant, who launched their bridal line in 2006, has discontinued their wedding gowns. According to http://www.lanebryant.com/pagebuilder/bridal_dresses, they announced that they’d no longer carry bridal wear “soon”. Clicking on the dresses, it doens’t look like any are available for order. That’s a shame. They had simple, elegant gowns at reasonable prices.

Given the current economic happenings in the US, I wanted to revisit some of the budget-related posts I’ve done over the last few years. How To Recession-Proof Your Wedding Avoid The Wedding Debt Trap, Pt 1 Avoid The Wedding Debt Trap, Pt 2 25 Ways To Save On Your Wedding

The Question of the Day comes from Mandi: My DIY skills can only go so far. My fi and I want to hire some help to handle big planning stuff but we’re confused. What’s the difference among wedding designers, coordinators, and planners? Or are they the same with different titles? Thanks!

I just received a cute postcard in the mail that reads "Let's Top It Off"--Elle F Designs cake toppers. Check them out -- I think they're great if you'relooking for a fun topper. ellefdesigns.etsy.com, 646-781-9543.

A reader recently posed this question: Is there a standard amount of time before the wedding that an engagement party should occur? The engagement party can be held any time from a couple of months to a few weeks before the wedding. If you throw a shower too far in advance, the couple may not have had time to complete their registry. Too soon before, and the bride may be too distracted by all she has to do. An exception is when important friends and family will only be in the area days before the wedding.

We love coming up with wedding favor ideas at MSLO -- and because we also love to see what different favors all of you come up with, we've just started a creative wedding-favor photo-upload contest on marthastewart.com/wedding-favors. Please submit a snapshot of a favor you are planning to do for your wedding! I'm going to keep checking, so please share (and feel free to forward this to friends, too!)

I was just at Pronovias where I learned about their fun trunk shows! This coming weekend is the Pronovias 2009 collection with more than 50 styles for brides to choose from. "Our trunk shows are a party!" said a Pronovias spokesperson. "We host the event on the third floor exclusively, where every dress on display is in the trunk show -- all brides being styled in the same area, creating a magical buzz. We have a hostess in uniform serving champagne, hors d'oeuvres and Lindt chocolates on silver trays, great upbeat music, and lots of party atmosphere! Our brides enjoy special…

I attended the New Yorkers for Children Foundation 2008 Fall Gala with my friends from Pronovias (which, by the way, has the most incredible new store in midtown Manhattan). It was at Cipriani 42nd Street and David Stark did the decor, which was fabulous. There were two decor ideas of David's that I thought could be helpful in figuring out wedding decor. First, he mixed table shapes so it was not a huge sea of round tables. He divided the room of round tables by one very long rectangular table; it could be fun to do this for your bridal party -- it's hard to fit all of those bridesmaids,…

In the flurry of planning all your wedding details, a small detail like where your guests should place your gifts is easy to overlook.  But, take it from me, it's REALLY a good idea to have a card box, bird cage or any other designated place for enveloped presents to go into.  A gift table is all well and good, but a box of some sort is not only a great way to keep all your envelopes together, but its also a spot where you add some personal details/ tie your box into your overall "look". For this one couple, they loved all things vintage and used this antique suitcase as a…

Escort cards are the sometimes last minute project of many a wedding.   Sometimes brides and grooms are still making last minute seating changes right up until the day of the wedding, resulting in scratched out escort cards or white out over table assignments. One of my favorite ways around that dilemma is to use mini-envelopes and insert cards instead of just fold over cards.   The guest name's are placed on the envelope and inside is a little card that has their table assignment. Not only can you color coordinate your envelopes and cards to your color scheme, as we see…

If you have a large wedding party you may have already discovered that short of a fleet of standard limos, or a music video worthy Hummer stretch, your options for getting your "troops" around town seem a little bit limited.  I thought it might be worth while to post about some of the more interesting options for group transportation.  These might be a little bit harder to find outside of major metro areas, but not impossible. I love vintage trolleys.   Not only is one great for the wedding party (and parents, photogs, videographers, etc), but it can be a great…

I've been thinking a lot about how varied and fashionable veils have become lately and also how just as often, brides are skipping the veil all together. It got me wondering, what are you doing with your veil? To inspire the conversation, here are some real "lookers" that have gotten my attention lately.

I had a weekend that was book-ended in wonderful weddings that shared one particularly successful element in common- the Polaroid Guest book. This isn't the first time we've had these at a client's wedding and I'm sure many of you readers have heard about them, but take it from me, time and again, they are consistent crowd pleasers and make a guest book worth visiting again and again. My one thought about how to improve them is a backdrop. A backdrop can add an element of fun to your photo guest book and up the ante a bit in terms of style. It's also a great way to create that Photo booth…

{ umber combination -- hairpiece and ceramic flower dish } here's something gorgeous for fall or winter weddings -- with meticulous, phenomenal packaging and an incredibly reasonable price. seriously, this shop is full of beautiful perfect things, made with recycled, upcycled, and creatively reused materials, which makes them -- yes! eco-friendly. most come in some sort of handmade box, which

{ bride and groom peacock wedding birds by cornflakegirl } the never-ending creativity. here's my inaugural question answered by rebecca, who wrote in with four (plus) things she actually purchased from etsy for her peacock theme. the little birds above are just amazing teensy sculptures. i have linked all the photos here to the individual shops, so you can peruse what these artists are making

friends, it has been a while. a long while. there's only so much apologizing one blogger can do. and that gets me thinking: maybe i need to enlist some help. (!) and a here's a great idea (i think!): user-generated content! yes! i'd like to pose several questions to you, my wedding-minded readers, in the democratic spirit of the election season. the first: if price were no object, what four

{ paisley bow tie -- freestyle and blue } xoelle (get it? kiss-hug-elle?) (ok, i didn't at first either, but i like it!) makes *great* ties by reusing and repurposing vintage neckties and fabrics into new ones. plus she's in pensacola, which is very close to where my sister lives, and i am totally nephew-obsessed this week. gaga for nephew. nephew-o-rama. back to the ties! check these out:

{ reinked and recycled -- save the date letterpress } as a bonus for those of you who read that long bit below, here's something i've had on deck for a while now -- have featured invitedink on here a couple of times for great design and all around outstanding invitations, and now the kind folks there have a site called reinked for their eco-friendly line. these gorgeous rounded-edge (check!)

It's October, which means that winter is officially around the corner! Visions of cozy sweaters and cute coats are dancing through my head, and of course, hot cocoa! For those of you domestic diva types, you'll love this recipe for homemade marshmallows. You can mix and match flavorings to add some variety and set up your own signature hot chocolate bar at your next holiday soiree! Homemade Marshmallows Nonstick vegetable oil spray 1 cup cold water, divided 3 1/4-ounce envelopes unflavored gelatin 2 cups sugar 2/3 cup light corn syrup 1/4 teaspoon salt 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 1/2 cup…

Name: Amber Location: Brooklyn, New York. We just moved from the suburbs of Connecticut, and I'm having a lot of fun! Blog or Website: TheAmberShow.net What do you do for a living? I'm primarily a housewife, but I've just accepted some freelance online PR work, where I will be marketing self-published writers to online media venues. I also will be helping my husband with his new media production business. My ultimate dream is to be a professional art photographer and a mom at the same time. What is your favorite way to spend a Sunday? Hanging out with my husband, Rob. We'd shlub around in…

Finding and maintaining balance during wedding planning can be a difficult task for many brides. Earlier this year, I wrote about this topic for a series at the Elizabeth Anne Designs blog. This subject has come up a few times recently in my personal conversations with people, so I am reposting the link to that article. You can read the original article here. Planning a wedding doesn't have to throw your life into a spiral, there is no such thing as perfection, and it is possible to enjoy this season and your fiance. ***** Featured Wedding Planning Resource

I shared this video last year, but it is still funny and I thought some of you may need a mental break from all of the stress of wedding planning. Enjoy! ***** Featured Wedding Planning Resource

The arrival of autumn means wedding season here in Arizona, which means lots of bridal showers as well. For those of you planning a brunch shower for the brides in your life, here is a great Bloody Mary recipe to serve your guests. Pitcher of Bloody Marys 6 limes, juiced 1 tablespoon celery seeds 3 tablespoons grated fresh or prepared horseradish 2 quarts tomato juice, chilled 2 tablespoons hot sauce 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper 1 1/2 cups pepper vodka, chilled in the freezer Celery stalk, for serving Cucumber spears, for serving Handful fresh…

So, one of the lovely gifts that we registered for was a down comforter, but knowing that we wouldn't actually be sleeping in a frozen tundra, we picked the lightest, or the 365-day, year-round duvet. We both like sleeping with a blanket, but I am seriously rethinking this duvet - it might have to be put in the closet until cooler temperatures prevail. We've tried turning the thermostat down a

I'm in love with my new jeans. The jean situation has been coming to a head over the last week. My favorite/best fitting pair of jeans has been heading down the path to being ousted for a while. There is a weird bleach "dot" on the right thigh, below the pocket, which hasn't bothered me, but at one point bothered my husband, but he forgot that it existed when I listed it as one of the reasons

I am seriously glad that I started writing thank you's before the wedding, but am not glad that there are still so many to go. I really do not like writing thank you notes. It is a bizarre sort of torture, for many reasons, that only other brides can understand. 1) Thank you's take a disproportionate amount of time to write in relation to anything else you would ever write. Case in point: I

The one gift that I did not mind getting that was off-registry was a gift card. We had gift cards from Pottery Barn, Home Depot, California Pizza Kitchen, Kohl's, Starbucks, and of course Bed Bath and Beyond. One thing that I would suggest to all brides out there is to find an old wallet of yours or your fiance's to keep all of your gift certificates in. This way, they're not making your

I'm not sure how many of us are out there, but I think that it is critical to find out if you will be a football widow before you get married. Not only does our television magically turn itself to football from Saturday lunchtime to Monday night, but my husband is a Buffalo Bills fan. Some of you may not understand that, but the Bills have been heart-breakingly awful the three seasons that I

The Perfect Table Plan team sent me over a copy of their Perfect Table Plan software to try out- I started on version three and upgraded to version four so I was able to play with the brand new features of Version 4- more table shapes, tableware options, exporting guest lists to PDF and more added features. I love the notion that seating guests doesn’t have to involve a myriad of sticky notes and paper and that it can all be at my fingertips (seeing as a lot of brides are using spreadsheets nowadays anyway). The program is based on a five-step task list. 1.    Add Guests 2.    Define…

Earlier today I shared with you some of the gorgeous wedding photos from Kylene and Ryan’s wedding. Now for the juicy details! The details of this wedding were so thought out and truly complimented Kylene and Ryan’s style! As guests arrived at the wedding, a handmade sign directed them to the ceremony site. It also pointed them to Kylene and Ryan’s favourite holiday destinations. The top was adorned with polka dot ribbon. Kylene wore pink shoes under her wedding gown. For the ceremony, the aisle was decorated with rose petals and shepherds hooks with mason jars filled with…

Kylene emailed me over our mutual love of polka dots. Turns out Kylene is a photographer and runs her own studio called Forever Photography By Kylene and her website is based on white, brown and pink polka dots- just like Polka Dot Bride! Not only does Kylene’s love of polka dots show in her business, but it also shone in her recent nuptials! Kylene told me the story how they met “Ryan and I were friends/coworkers for several years before we started dating.  He was the district manager for a photography company that I started working for in college, and after our friendship…

This photo popped up earlier this week (because on Wednesday i was dying for Sunday to come!) So here it is in all it’s glory! The shot is from the wedding of Cassi and Patrick. The sweetest flower girl sang a song for the newlyweds but had to hide while singing it as she was too shy! Photo by Cathy & David Photo

I think these silk shoes from Charlie Max would be a brilliant choice if you wanted to wear flats on your wedding day A perfect something blue! Or perhaps, if you want to be a coloured shoe bride Or if you’re going for the damask look Charlie Max shoes are designed by Australian Tania Kursidim. Each pair is designed so the left shoe is different to the right. I am lusting over at least three pairs.

Consider D.U.M.B.O. Brooklyn for your wedding! I had the pleasure of attending the 2008 D.U.M.B.O. Arts Under the Bridge Festival in Brooklyn, New York, this past Saturday. And oh what an experience it was. Thanks to hundreds of visual artists, this was the time of year when Dumbo becomes a multi-sensory art arena, FREE and open to all. Art was everywhere: streets, sidewalks, storefronts,

Hip, Modern, Exclusive Wedding Invitations! Wedding Paper Divas are obsessed with designing the finest, highest quality stationery that is unique, simple and modern. Unlike many other stationery companies that simply provide an extensive, something-for-anyone offering, Wedding Paper Divas works with talented artists all over the country to design truly unique products that match current trends

This cherry blossom porcelain dish, available at Beaucoup.com, is a practical gift that is every bit as beautiful. The cherry blossom (also known as sakura) is a beloved Japanese flower that takes a very prominent position in Japanese culture. The trays are hand painted by skilled artisans in Japan. They are great for presenting candies and almonds and can be used as votive holders or soap

Shoe clips are a classic accessory, originally made popular in the past eras of glamour. Essentially jewellery for your shoes, Emmersen Shoe Clips can be clipped onto shoes to co-ordinate a look, for added decoration or as a striking feature piece. Shoe clips can also be used to embellish other items including bags, hats and scarves or used in the same way as a brooch, on clothing.

If you haven't discovered Alltop.com, it is time you do. Think of an Alltop site as a "digital magazine rack" of the Internet. Explore not only dozens wedding blogs but also dozens of other topics. Environment, photography, science, Muslim, celebrity gossip, military, fashion, gaming, sports, politics, automobiles, and Macintosh. Alltop helps you explore your passions. I've discovered many

Welcome back! When we last left off, the ceremony had just ended and Nick and I were basking in...

Ready for the ceremony recap?  It’s a long one… So after the boys were done getting...

Next, I’ll take you through my favorite set of photos from Erin: the getting ready pics! We...

I’ll be ordering this recap by the way the files were ordered on the disc that Erin sent me, which...

Oh happy day!  My pro-pics are in!! Look for an in-depth recap from my point of view in the near future.  (I’m doing this more for my own reasons so that I can process and remember all that happened, because most of it is a big blur..  I want to have a written account of my very favoritest moments to read back on in the future.  Hope it’s not too boring!) PS - I’ll also take this time to point out our awesome gifts from the folks at Acorn Media (go buy their DVDs!), our Tiffany’s toasting flutes. They’re a little backwards in the photo, but any good Office fan knows how great…

As some of you might remember, a couple of months ago I hopped on the pole for my very first pole dancing class over at Smart Workouts, here in NYC.  Well, I guess a few of you readers headed over to check out their unique gym where visitors can go and have semi-private training sessions and classics in things like pilates, weights, pole dancing and more. The ladies at Smart Workouts would like to encourage more of the same and they are extending a special offer to Always a Blogsmaid readers.   If you buy a one day pass and mention the blog, you'll get a 2nd day free.  If…

It makes my heart swell with joy when I see people I love doing things that they love to do and, ahem, that we encouraged.  Our good friend Dante had always loved photography. So a few years ago we asked him to swing by our weddings before the guests got there to take some shots of our decor and details.  He did an awesome job, but it wasn't long before he was itching to shoot some people.  On a lark, he hung around one of our weddings (with the Principal photographers' permission) and got such a great shot of the first dance, it was selected by the Knot for Real…

The Q:  I've been in a funk ever since I got back from my honeymoon. I'm so happy to be married, but I was in such a flurry before the wedding, I feel like there is something missing.  All I do is talk about my wedding to my friends and family.  It must be so annoying since that was also all I did before the wedding.  Is this normal?  Any advice to getting over it? The A:  It's post wedding depression, and it's totally normal.  In fact, I think many of my readers are recently-wed and weaning themselves off the wedding blog fix. :-) Remember, it makes total…

The Q: I'm operating on a tight budget with a big guest list (350 invited, we're hoping closer to 250 on the day) and was astonished at the cost to rent a dance floor!  To get one the size I keep reading we need (approx. 24x24 for 250 people) the rental company is charging about $1000 to provide it and set it up.  We're getting married in the conference center of a state park so it's indoors but carpeted.Do I really need a dance floor or can we mark off an area of the room?  I want a rockin' dance party! The A: I know, these things get expensive.  If you were on a marble…

The Q:  Should the wedding program list deceased parents and/or grandparents? The A:  It can recognize them, but it shouldn't list them.  This is a difficult distinction to make, since there are so many ways to organize and lay out a ceremony program.  But to clarify, it shouldn't say "Parents of the Bride" and then next to a name say (deceased). But the program is a place to offer a remembrance.  A note of thanks and thought from the bride and groom is a great touch to put on any wedding program, and its also a very appropriate place to mention and…

Since California legalized gay marriage, many same-sex couples—including Ellen Degeneres and Portia de Rossi—have already happily tied the knot. So after all is said and done, what is the difference between a same-sex wedding and a straight one?  “Gay weddings don’t seem to be much different than straight events, except for what’s on top of the cake: two girls, two guys or a mix,” quips Mark Belhumeur from the Russian River’s Village Inn. Gay couples are now (finally!) legally allowed to marry anywhere they wish in California, but like everyone…

Many a bride-to-be has looked forward to her bachelorette party with (almost) as much excitement as the wedding day itself, so why rush the fun? To properly blow off some pre-wedding steam, consider making your bachelorette party a destination getaway. When planning your trip, click your way to Holiday Golightly, a website that takes care of the nitty-gritty travel preparations so you have more time to look forward to your leisurely weekend with the girls. As a native Texan, I’m partial to their Austin Music Getaway, which includes—among other things—tickets to a live…

If you’re looking for a fab San Francisco bridal fair to attend this weekend, you just have to stop by A City Club Affaire. The event is Sunday, October 5, 2008 from 11am-3pm at The City Club. In addition to the gorgeous dresses by Amy Kuschel Bride, this fair will be featuring many of our amazing Certified By The Guide event professionals. Be sure to check out: Arrowood Photography Aritsts in Music Branch Out Cakework Classic Party Rentals Denon & Doyle Hyegraph Invitations & Calligraphy I Do! Wedding & Event Design Marianne Kent Music

I don’t know about you, but when I pack for traveling, I can never decide which jewelry to take along…and am equally stumped when it comes to how to pack my little treasures. Inevitably, I end up grabbing a handful of mismatched odds and ends, and tossing them into a plastic baggie. Not very cool, I’m afraid. When I saw the customizable Travel Kit by Tejani, a hot jewelry line out of New York, I instantly thought, “What an elegant solution!” Not only does the kit include some stunning basics that can take you from beach to café to 5-star restaurant with…

If you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing something from last season, why would you serve food that was as just as passé as those Ugg boots gathering dust in your closet? As Californians, our desire to stay in vogue is not limited to our wardrobe. Since we come from a state with an abundance of wine, cheese, organic produce and other goodies, we also tend to keep up with the “in” foods—while watching our fashionable figures, of course! As you map out your rehearsal dinner and wedding reception menus, take a peek at this year’s hottest food trends. After all,…

Whew! Working and planning your wedding at the same time is a total stretch for me! It's a good thing I'm off after tomorrow. I'll be able to focus on the details - but it looks like things are coming together so well, I might join the family for a trip up to Apple Hill on Thursday. I have high hopes for that as it would be awesome to be able to relax a bit the day before the Rehearsal.We'll see.With that said, I have a slough of things to blog about over at Weddingbee. Sadly, I have just not had time to upload my photos. The family is in town, so we've got chaos at the Pom Casa. Poor baby…

Well, it's HERE! The 10-day stretch has finally come.I'm surprisingly not-that-stressed-out. I just have a tidbit of anxiety that makes me constantly want to work on wedding shiz, even when I'm at work and can't. I have a constant To Do List running throughout my brain - and honestly, I'm not sure how I'm going to handle that once the whole she-bang is over!There's a lot to do. I mean, the majority of it has been planned - but I need to pack and organize, organize, organize! I'm currently working on a Family and Friends-friendly document that will contain a toned-down timeline and lots of…

Soooo since today is International Talk Like A Pirate Day - does that mean that I can ask invited guests, who refuse to RSVP or chose to do so at the last minute, to walk the plank?Let's just say that this lack of attention to etiquette shivers me timbers! Hehe.

I'm here, migraine and all, to bring you an emergency bridal fashion alert!Hautelook is currently holding a delectable Decades Two sample sale showcasing dresses by none other than Prada, Michael Kors, Marchesa, Giambattista Valli, Carolina Herrera, and many more! These gowns are from a store specializing in pre-worn and sample clothing, hangbags, and jewelry (there's those as well, if you're looking). So most of the gowns are singles and in one size only. Hop to it folks!If you want a Hautelook membership - email me here.Swan Lake by MarchesaOriginal Price $3,500Hautelook Price $1,200A fancy…

So. I've lost some of my motivation to write blogs (along with my motivation to create, perhaps) and so I apologize for being so uncharacteristically quiet.I'll have lots of updates for you - in fact, for those of you who want a sneak peek at my dress as it's being made, well, there it is. I also have been a HUUUUGE slacker on the tag front. I was tagged by the oh-so-awesome Cathleya (AKA Mrs. Pengy on WB) and I have to share with you 6 random facts. Although, I'll be honest with you and say that these facts will not be included in this particular post (though I have been pondering them) - so…

We’re still getting settled back in from an amazing weekend in Northern Michigan for my dear friends, Kate & Aaron’s gorgeous wedding. I’ll be back tomorrow with a post on the programs I made for the wedding, our great bridesmaid dresses and some other fun/hilarious moments. For now, I’ll leave you with the moment they were announced husband and wife. I present to you, the Rockstar Newlyweds!       

Want to know how my sister and I are spending our Friday nights? Oh yes that’s right, crafting baby! Here are the initials that you might remember we used for her wedding back in July. They are back for more wedding action! For our wedding, I bought some really orangish/yellow/ivory flowers at JoAnn’s Fabrics and Crafts. The labor was more intensive because the petals varied in size, so my sister had to twist and turn them with her handy dandy glue gun, but it looks spectacular, don’t ya think? Here’s my sister hard at work.  I was gocco’ing my friend,…

Last week, I had my final fitting! It was very exciting to put my lovely VW on again. I heart my dress so much! I don’t really have any tips for ya’ll on this one. I’m not wearing any kind of bra, but there were some cups sewn in. I also sported some spanks for the tummy and bottom area, cuz, ya know. Let’s just get right to the pictures shall we?!?! I look sort of nervous in this picture don’t I? I think it was all soaking in at that moment. Pardon the wrinkles! I’m wearing the cathedral veil that Candi Merle made for me! You like my french bustle? I…

I know you are anxiously awaiting to see our gorgeous letterpress invitations, right? Kristin of Twin Ravens Press was an amazing vendor. She put up with the 50 emails I’d send her each week and was very prompt to return them. She even did separate mailings of other stationery so that we could get our invites out on time. She is seriously the cat’s meow. Check out her amazing work: Sorry to blur out some of the information, don’t hurt me. Calligraphy is by the fabulous, Michele Clark. Here’s our accommodations/directions card. *Just realized I spelled accommodations…

I know what you’re thinking.  I was supposed to be showing you some homemade gocco wedding invitations.  That’s what I promised right?  Well, I owe you a big apology.  I’m a diy failure in this respect.  To be honest, I think I ran out of gas in the midst of studying for the bar (which I passed!) and helping my sister get married. It was definitely an unanticipated expense, but our letterpress invitations turned out beautifully. I promise you, my homemade gocco invitations would not have been 1/2 of what Kristin at Twin Raven Press made for us. Before I show you the big…

This is NOT the year to get to the polls only to find out that your voter registration has expired, or that you've moved out of your voting district, or that you can't vote under your maiden name, or that it's too late to send in your absentee ballot. With less than 30 days until the election on November 4th, it's time to take your United States citizenship seriously and participate in this thing we call democracy. Here are voter registration deadlines and information links for some key states...MAIL-IN REGISTRATION HAS ALREADY PASSED FOR THESE STATES!*Check the individual sites to see if…

Every month I try to post a new image that is suitable for displaying at desktop size and resolution. Click on an image to download a copy and freshen up your desktop!I love fall and all of its beautiful colors!! This is my tribute to the colors found in the leaves of autumn.

I know this is pretty unheard of on my blog, but I loved so many of the creative portraits that we did at their wedding that I'm making a separate post for just the posed shots!! Caroline & Dave wanted a lot of artistic portraits, and they had some awesome locations to work with, so I we pretty much rocked it out!! While I'm at it, I'll throw in a few standard portraits as well just to show you that I do take them when requested. Let's start with the traditional and end with funky..A touch of Chicago skyline...Happy & sweet...Your standard, front of the church shot...Face framing..Kinda…

I'm honored to have another image place in the Wedding Photojournalist Association!! This is from the Q1 2008 contest (I didn't submit anything for Q2.. but there's always Q3 & Q4!) and was taken during Caroline & Dave's wedding, which I'll be blogging about next (sooo many awesome photos from that wedding)!! I love that WPJA actually includes judge's comments (sometimes), which you can see underneath the image! Thanks to Dave and all of his guys for giving me an award-winning moment to capture!!

Alex (the hubby) and I have been fans of the excellent service of Men's Wearhouse ever since we used them to supply the vests and ties for our wedding (our groomsmen used tuxes they already owned from being musicians... but that's a different kind of suit recycling!) (Yep, that's us!! I can't believe it's going to be 5 years this October!) So, I was naturally interested in a post I saw on Vintage Indie Blog that said Men's Wearhouse is doing a National Suit Drive for the months of September and October! Here's why it's more awesome than taking your suit to Salvation Army... "A Second…

Here’s part 2 of the interview with Tara about her green wedding. Read part 1 here. What were some of the things you did to make the wedding “green”? In the beginning we started small but we ended up implementing over 20 different eco-initiatives. Having an eco-wedding is still a new concept in Houston, so we did have to overcome some obstacles, but we did it and we succeeded too. Here’s a list of our eco initiatives: Ceremony & Reception at the same location (The Four Seasons Hotel) Eco-event wedding coordinator Jessica Zapatero of Green Lily Events Wedding Cake and…

This week we’re featuring Tara and Mike’s green wedding, held in August in Houston. Tara gave me a ton of great info in the interview, so instead of one long post, I’m going to break this up over a few days. It’s great stuff, and if you’re thinking about doing an eco-friendly wedding, be sure to read the whole interview. Why did you decide to have a green or eco friendly element in your wedding? Over the past several years, I have become an environmentally conscious person and that has impacted my daily life. My husband has also jumped on board over the past few…

Too often, “eco-friendly” is equated with “expensive” - higher prices on “green” household products, organic food isn’t cheap, and so on. With unpredictable economic times ahead, couples are looking for ways to cut down on wedding costs and wedding debt without appearing cheap. One of the core concepts behind the eco-friendly wedding is cutting out the extra stuff - cut back ruthlessly and find inexpensive natural alternatives for otherwise expensive “stuff” that would otherwise find its way into landfills once the ceremony is over. So, 8…

My wife and I have been using microfiber cloths for cleaning around the house, and I’M IN LOVE with these cloths! Use these cloths with water only, no chemical cleaners are necessary! I cleaned the shower door yesterday (soap scum and hard water residue); the cloth cleaned so easily - water only and it came out clean and shiny! They polish chrome amazingly well, the windows are cleaner then ever, and I can see through my glasses! When they get dirty, throw them in the wash - they can be reused hundreds of time. Seriously, spend $5 or $6 buck to try them out - you’ll never go back…

In the past, I’ve talked to brides who decided not to go with an organic wedding dress because, in their words, the designs were boring or frumpy. They haven’t seen these dresses. (Photo from Wai-Ching via the BluePlanetWedding.com photo pool on Flickr. All rights reserved by Chrissy Wai Ching) If you’re looking for an organic/low impact wedding dress, you owe it to yourself to check out these eco-friendly wedding dresses by Chrissy Wai-Ching. I’m not 100% positive every piece in the collection has been made from organic materials; check with the studio if you’re…

I heart this jacket.Source :: Chelsey McLaren

Goodness gracious! It's been a week since I last posted and I must apologize - I've had some very exciting things going on and I just haven't found the time.I couldn't help but post this today though, the latest issue of Martha Stewart Weddings will be on newstands today!The reason why I'm so excited about this particular issue is because, according to the fabulous Darcy Miller, it's all about personalization:“The most memorable weddings are those that truly reflect the personalities of the bride and groom. Everything between these covers is devoted to tips on how to make the day ‘feel…

Source :: Erin Gilmore

Meet Kristine. Kristine Baerlin of Figment. Remember the name. Kristine Baerlin is a talented portrait painter based out of Brooklyn, NY and her paintings are fresh and contemporary and entirely extraordinary.Her hand-painted portraits of adults and children are a contemporary approach to the pop art tradition, each carefully planned with her clients to best reflect their individual style and taste. Working together, they swap color ideas, decide on a size and determine the best photograph from which to work.Recently she has done a few bridal and wedding portraits and has loved the…

I had the pleasure of attending a rodeo on Saturday - what more, my very best girlfriend and her husband were in the rodeo. SexyHusband and I straddled the fence, drank a few beers, and I took about three hundred pictures. It was a really nice way to spend one last sunny summer day.When I saw the BBQ invitation on the Lulu Paper website it made me think of my Saturday, surrounded by cowboys, and how that would translate into a wedding...Sources ::Invitation Lulu Paper; Cowboy Couple and Bonfire Brides; Cake I Dream of Cake; Button Heart Cox & CoxBarn and Dessert Buffet Michèle M. Waite;…

LEDGENDARY BRIDAL SALON, KLEINFELD MANHATTAN, COMES TO MINNESOTASince 1941, hundreds of thousands of brides from all over the world have made the pilgrimage to Kleinfeld, the worlds leading destination for brides to be, offering the largest selection of exclusive designer bridal gowns anywhere… echoing the phrase “Everyone comes to Kleinfeld.” Now Kleinfeld is featuring Alita Graham, one of Kleinfeld’s most successful exclusive designer collections. Alita Graham for Kleinfeld Kollection is having a showing outside Manhattan at The Wedding Shoppe in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The full…

... I would go that way."So said Janice when I asked her about the incredible Pnina Tornai dress she bought. "I feel like a girl!" Janice and Steve are getting married in June of next year at the Huntington Harbor Club and look at how happy she is in that cloud of a dress! Janice was so sweet when I spoke to her- a perfect lady and a really nice person. She waited a long time for Steve. And though he is battling cancer and in remission, Janice is sure that "it took me a long time to find him. He isn't going anywhere". Steve is a policeman and a real handsome guy. Janice is a bookeeper and a…

I AM SO SORRY, LADIES! For the last few days I have been buried in a huge event that has left me too drained for anything else! I promise I will be back tomorrow with the next installment of "Say Yes To The Dress" and the Kleinfeld Experience. Thank you for your patience!

Let's meet some of the stars of "Say Yes To The Dress"! First, Elise and Joan- two wonderful ladies who manage the store and keep the staff on track. Elise, the director of sales, is a real presence among the staff and on the show. She knows what is going on at all times. From morning meeting when she gives everyone their appointments until the last bride leaves the store- Elise has it handled. I found her to be very warm and open. She welcomed me into the store and didn't get upset when I kept the sales staff beyond the time I was given! We chatted as if we had known each other a long time…

I didn't get to speak to Ronnie Rothstein this trip, but he is, by all accounts a "great boss". He must be, because he has very loyal employees and a flawless operation at Kleinfeld's. From the moment you walk in the store, you feel the love and the dedication of this man's passion for brides. I would love the chance to meet him- maybe next time.On the other hand, I did get to chat with Mara Urshel and she is one of the lovliest ladies I have ever had the pleasure of speaking with!! Mara worked for Saks for 20 years before taking on the incredible task of running Keinfeld's. Mara travels all…

As soon as I clapped eyes on this bandeau dress by Oasis, I fell for it. With a great deal of colour that's kept classic, this oriental inspired print dress is perfect for wedding guests. I've teamed it with...

In the jam-packed world of wedding designers, Vera Wang is about as close to royalty as they come in recent years. While she's made some stunners for celebrities all over Hollywood, her designs are very much accessible for us...

Forget all those bridal emergency kits with their plasters, pins and potions. What a girl really needs when she's in trouble is chocolate. You could start off simple with blister packs of 30 chocolate pills (stick them in your...

With beading on lace and in a mermaid style, this is a romantic dress without volume. There are plenty of pretty features from the lace-up back to the layered chapel train and the dress can be paired with a...

Making up your own wedding favours is a great way to save cash in your wedding budget and the beauty is you can do it whilst putting your feet up and watching TV. World of Wedding Favours have masses of...

A friend introduced me to these last week, and I've been loving them ever since. They're called "Stress dots". Like the mood rings of my high school days, Stress dots help you monitor the level of stress in your body by the color of the dot (the dot responds to your body temperature). Perfect for brides! Stress dots come with an interpretive color chart. Violet=very relaxed, Blue=relaxed, Green=

Congratulations Katie and Rob! . Katie and Rob danced to Blue Skies on Saturday night, but the skies outside were a dark gray and rained for most of the day. However, in answer to a fervent prayer, there was a break in the rain, and Katie and Rob were able to take their wedding photos as planned on the grounds of the Fransciscan Monastery across the street (the wedding itself was held at the St.

Yesterday, I traveled nine hours for a 35-minute flight. When I finally got home last night, tired and hungry, I discovered a package waiting at my front door. A thank you gift, another thank you gift from a past client (I'd already received one shortly after her wedding this past April). This morning, I was so tired from the events over the past couple of days, I could barely lift my arms (

Last week, I had to make a quick trip to another country. On my last day there I met a friend for lunch at a "fancy" restaurant. When the bill came, I noticed that an 18% gratuity was automatically added (even though it was only two people having lunch). Well, we had a great server, so I brushed it off, but inquired with the manager on my way out about how the gratuities were distributed among

Earlier this year, one of my brides got a call from the bridal shop on the day the bridesmaids dresses were due to be delivered. The shop told her that the factory, in China, burned to the ground and the dresses were delayed. In fact, they would arrive on the day of her wedding. With not enough lead time to order new dresses from another designer, my bride put the tasks of finding replacement

I'd like to continue on with my thoughts about cocktail hour, and bring up a very obvious--but very basic--concept (that I call the "Goldlilocks Effect". Remember the childhood book, "Goldilocks and the Three Bears"? (One bowl of porridge was too hot, one was too cold, the next just right?)When looking at a wedding reception, I would argue that the cocktail hour room is just as important--if not more important--than the room where a bride/groom choose to have their ceremony and reception. Why? As I've said before, the cocktail hour really sets the tone for the rest of the evening. If your…

I was thinking about cocktail hour, and how important of an event it is when a bride/groom choose to have a "full scale" wedding reception (i.e. ceremony, cocktail hour, reception). To me, cocktail hour is that time when guests need to "re-fuel". After a ceremony--even if it's short--the first thing guests want to do is make a beeline for one of two places: the bathroom or the food.Therefore, making hors d'oeuvres accessible -- no matter how many guests you have -- is of utmost importance (probably more important than how good the food actually IS). Surely, no one wants to gobble down…

Hello my lovely readers. I hope you all have been well. So sorry for the long pause in my writings, but I've been trying to think about what subject or topic to tackle next. And I keep trying, and trying, and trying! I am having The Wedding Fairy version of writer's block.I need some inspiration to get me started, and I think the best place to get it is from the people who know the most about the planning process--and the ups and downs that go along with it.My request from you guys? I'd love your thoughts and observations from a wedding you recently attended (something you absolutely adored…

One of the other things about planning a wedding that I want readers to keep in mind is three little words:MANAGE. YOUR. EXPECTATIONS. Unfortunately, there are TONS of wedding magazines, websites, and blogs out there which present titillating stories about Ashley Simpson's "fairy-tale" wedding (an Alice in Wonderland theme! Crystal chandeliers all over the place!) or the fascinating details about the latest wedding of the celebrity du jour. During my planning, I was aware of all of the fascinating tidbits, and sure, I read about them too. (In Style Wedding magazine was actually one of my…

One of the things I commented on in a recent post was how FAST the actual wedding went. It was all a beautiful blur, and while TallGuy and I had an amazing time, we really couldn't believe it was over, just as soon as we felt it began.What DID feel like a long process--and which I really savored and enjoyed--was the wedding planning. Yes, there were some tears and frustrations along the way (as some of you may have read about with my being "favor-less" two days before the wedding!) But because I had a good deal of time to work on the dirty details (TallGuy proposed in February '07, and we…

I have never been to Costa Rica, but I've heard wonderful things about the lush, Central American country, which boasts many eco-tourism programs and hotels. Villa Blanca Cloud Forest Hotel is more than just your ordinary Costa Rican hotel - it's a 75 acre boutique hotel, surrounded by a private, biological reserve that desires to combine "country style hospitality with a profound respect for the natural surroundings." It is also a member of the C.S.T (Certification in Sustainable Tourism) program.

The Good Envelope Party is a bi-monthly women's collective in Silver Lake, California that creates handmade envelopes with salvaged books and magazines. Proceeds are directly donated to non-profit organizations, underfunded schools, and local families struggling to fulfill their basic needs.Found via Daily Candy

Isn't She Lovely recently tagged me and I have to apologize because I've been somewhat slow to follow through. So here is some random stuff about me and my day!4 Things I Did Today: 1. Slept in until noon, which I both love and hate to do. I feel like I waste half the day, but then again it is Sunday and it's nice to sleep in.2. Read about our presidential candidates.3. Read some other blogs.4. Ate cereal for breakfast and contemplated giving up sweets for an entire month.4 Things On My To-Do list: 1. Create an inspiration board for my studio.2. Order supplies for EarthlyAffair.com.3. Go on a…

Wanted: Milk bottles disguised as vases. Last seen wearing labels dating back to the 1950's. WARNING - may be armed with flowers. These are out of stock, but if you find more, tell us!

This would work quite well for an early fall wedding in the south, when the weather has a nice chill to the air, but isn't extremely cold. Available at Ellita on Etsy. Found via Moments That Shine. (Doesn't that model kind of look like Catherine Zeta Jones?)

Looking for something unique as your wedding favors or table decor? How about these cute dessert towels? They actually look good enough to eat! Not only are they elegant and "sweet", but they are also very functional and I am sure your guests will be ecstatic to receive one of these towels at the end of your wedding reception.Please visit Le Viette to see more of their lovely creations.

My hubby and I will be in San Francisco for 2-1/2 days from December 6th through the 8th. Augie and Stacie... and any other industry professionals, if you have time I'd like to meet up with you guys either Saturday or Sunday evening after dinner for dessert or a night cap. Please leave me a comment and let me know your availability. Diane, I will see you on the 4th here on Mau`i!YAY... I am very excited to visit my 2nd home! =)Photo Credie: "The ever-so-talented Becker"

I am very excited to hear that one of our key wedding vendors, a boutique rental company located on the island of Mau`i, is acquiring some truly unique tents. They are due to arrive on Mau`i early February 2009 and will be available for rent immediately upon arrival. These tents are unique and innovative. Designed with the timeless tradition of skilled craftsmen working with the finest materials. Contact me directly to find out more about these tents and what color combinations will work best for you.These romantic and beautiful tents are ideal for the lawn, poolside or landscaped area, the…

I am having a lot of fun with Michelle and Henry this week, going to vendors' meetings, food tastings as well as checking out all of the venues with them. They are such a sweet and laid back couple and I know their wedding next year is going to be awesome. I sure can't wait.Here are the estates that we are checking out this week... it will be interesting to see which one they end up selecting!Pua Le'a Estate (aka Haiku Mill)Olowalu Plantation HouseKahana EstateSugarman EstateMakena Estate

I am very delighted that Wishpot contacted me and asked me to guest blog on their site as well as to become one of their wedding experts.Check out their wonderful wedding blog and hopefully you will see a post of mine on there soon!Thanks so much, Christine ("gift girl") for inviting me!

Oh how I wish I could go on an island getaway. Travel is one of the ways we can have the most impact on the global community, economically, socially, and environmentally. I always love to see different resorts like 9...

Check out the newest designs from Prismera Design. They are sublime.