Wednesday, September 29, 2010

UP; the wedding cake!

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No one can deny the romance and love that is the basis for the Disney movie UP so when I came across this gorgeous photo of an UP inspired wedding cake I thought; why didn't I think of this!

Love the idea, LOVE the cake... but more importantly, don't you just LOVE her wedding dress??


Images from Love and Bear Trap Wedding
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DIY Eva Longoria Inspired Updo for your wedding.

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If you've decided to do your hair yourself for you wedding or perhaps your bridesmaid's hair, here is a gorgeous and relatively easy way of creating a fabulous Updo for your big day, inspired by Eva Longoria.

I wore this Updo to a friends wedding last week, it took me about 25 minutes to do, mostly cause I was pushed for time but I reckon you are probably looking at about 40 minutes in reality. I would definitely suggest a practice run beforehand and extra pair of hands would be helpful too. While its advertised as an Updo for short hair it would work best for mid length hair. My own hair is just to the shoulder and I think had I had the extra big of length the hair style would have looked even better! 

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Thursday, September 23, 2010

Translations of Love; 12 Stunning Gowns by Pnina Tornai

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Pnina Tornai the world famous New York based designer works on the philosophy that creation is a translation of love. To her marriage is scared and she is honoured to be working with, and involved in, such a special and scared day in a couples life through her designs. Working as a designer for over 17 years and with boutiques in New York, Athens and London Pnina Tornai has designed and created some of the most stunning wedding dresses the world has ever seen.

Her dresses are all handmade, each with imported fabrics from Europe and the the highest Haute Couture standards. She works on a one to one basis with each client so that she can design a truly unique gown that will reflect the bride's personality. Her dresses are romantic, whimsical and look as though the have walked straight out of a fairy tale.





To view all Pnina Tornai bridal & evening gown collections check out Pnina Tornai
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Wednesday, September 22, 2010

A ruthless discussion of the term 'Budget Bride' and wedding decision making.

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The other day I read a really interesting, and thought provoking post on The Wedding Marketing Blog, Andy Ebon clarifies many terms and asks some interesting questions. I thought it would be really interesting for brides and wedding professionals alike and with kind permission you too can read; A ruthless discussion of the term 'Budget Bride' and wedding decision making by Andy Ebon of The Wedding Marketing Blog. 

I would love to hear your comments on it. 

Andy wrote; 

A couple of days ago, I posted an item about the differences between money (price), value, budget and result. It generated lots of traffic, a comment or two, and plenty of direct email.
It also caused me to consider the phrase, ‘budget bride.’ Along with DIY Bride, these are two of the most annoying and poorly used descriptors in the wedding industry. To a great degree, I lay that at the feet of my friends in mass media for the wedding industry. Mass media tends to be a popularization tool as much as an information source. If you repeat a phrase, such as ‘budget bride,’ often enough, it becomes part of the wedding lexicon, for better for worse.
The problem with these phrases is they paint the bride’s resources with the grayest of brush strokes. So, at the risk of being more precise, I’ll break it down from my experience.
  • DIY Bride: (Budget: under $5000) Someone who probably doesn’t have the resources to get married just yet and is likely to turn most of her wedding into an Arts and Crafts project.
  • Low Budget Bride (Budget: $5000 – $14,999) Has the resources, but will have to make some tough decisions on the reception. The big conundrum is whether to economize across the board or cut in specific areas, and not others.
  • Statistically Average Bride: (Budget: $15,000 – $34,999) Has the resources to do a nice job on the reception. Her biggest decision should be ‘How many guests can we invite to have a nice reception?’
  • High Budget Bride (Budget: $35,000 – $60,000): Has more than enough money to do great things. Her biggest challenge is not to make bad choices among wedding vendors, irrespective of money.
  • Luxury Bride (Budget: more than $60,000): Daddio has wads of cash and she wants to be awash in greenbacks. Not all brides in this financial category are Bridezillas, but the risk and tendency is greater than in any of the lower tiers. Bridezillas almost always make bad decisions. It’s in their DNA.
A budget is not:
  • … is not throwing a dart at a target.
  • … budget is not the total amount in the parent’s bank account or your bank account.
  • … budget is not what one or more girlfriends spent on their wedding.
  • … is not necessarily what you see on Platinum Weddings or Get Married TV (those are inspirations)
A budget is:
  • A study of the range of what wedding products and services cost in your area, balanced against your tastes, inspirations and fantasies.
  • Factored by the number of guests you choose to invite.
A line budget item is not:
  • “I only have $750 left for videography. Will you take that?”
  • “Oh, my third cousin, Oscar, is going to take the photos.”
A budget is:
  • $1 Million
  • $50,000
  • $25,000
  • $7,500
  • $3,000
Budget does not necessarily mean low budget. A budget can be…
  • A specific dollar amount or less
  • A specific dollar amount or more
  • A range from $X to $Y (this is the preferred budget)
  • Money is no object (must be the truth)
To read the blog post in its entirety follow this link. Read more: http://weddingmarketing.net/2009/06/19/ruthless-discussion-term-budget-bride/#ixzz10G9AxNa6
Images from Wedding Budget



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Wedding dresses; black & white.

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When it comes to fashion black and white are treasured, classic friends and we can see how easily this classic and timeless combination works effortless for wedding dresses as well. If you've been feeling for some time that your white wedding dress needs a little umph these stunning black and white wedding dresses should give you plenty of inspiration on how to effortlessly give them that drama or edge you want.


Images from: Wedding Inspirasi, The LBD Collection, Wedding Bells Blog, Budget Dream Weddings, Manolo for the Brides,  Wedding By Color, My 1 Wedding
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A bit of perspective; 45 lessons in life.

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A friend sent me this in an email forward this morning. I love it for its simplicity and honesty and while not wedding related at all I still think it appropriate to post, here's why:

On occasion some brides can become obsessed with their weddings, I'm sure we've all witnessed this at some point and while of course its not going to happen to any of my beautiful readers, you are all too well adjusted and sane for that, I thought this might act as a little reminder about what life is all about...

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio.

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."
continue reading "A bit of perspective; 45 lessons in life."

Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Cascading Butterfly Bridal Bouquet

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I love butterflies.

My office is full of them. They dance around my notice boards, hang from display centrepieces, a couple hide out in the drapes and one or two perch on the light.

I love when a bride says ' I want to use butterflies!' [ It's the little things that make me happy.] And so when I saw this bouquet I just had to include it in a post.

Elmer's Garden
Stunning! Don't you just love the colour and floral combination? It really does look like the butterflies are gently resting on the flowers. A must for any bride considering butterflies in her wedding theme.
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Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Petite Dessert Station for your wedding.

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Not sure what dessert option to chose for your wedding guests?

Not a fan of traditional wedding cake?

Or just looking for something a little different and unique to tantaslize and excite your wedding guests with?

If you've answered yes to one, or all of the above, you really have to consider a Petite Dessert Station for your wedding!


This beautiful Petite Desert Station was made by the talented folks at Jays Catering and desserts can be custom coloured to match in with your wedding theme and design!
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I think, quite possibly, that I am in love... with a wedding dress.

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I seem to see this dress every where I turn.

Justin Alexander Bridal

Be it a magazine, a blog or even the TV, its there and I honestly think I am in love with it. I would go so far as to say, this is THE dress.

What do you mean, I hear you ask?

Well as you know, or at least, as some of you know, I am married, over 3 years now but did we really all expect one wedding would be enough for me, in all seriousness?

Of course it wouldn't! No sooner had I walked down the aisle then I turned to my darling James and told him I want to do it all again...

Now I would love to have the finances that Seal & Claudia posses, but as talented as I am, I neither have the time, nor the moola  to do it annually. So from day one [day one being my wedding day], I've always said that I am doing it all again in ten years. Ok, I know you've now thrown your eyes up to heaven, but hey... I love weddings...

Will you get a invite for the 7th of July 2017? - you never know!
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Monday, September 13, 2010

Rainbow themed wedding details.

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Can't decide on a colour combination for your wedding?

Why not have them all?


To check out more of this gorgeous rainbow themed wedding check out the bride's blog here


Images from: Credit Crunch Bride, Chesapeake Strings, Kara's Party Ideas, Funfavors, Manolo for Brides, The Knot, Chesapeake Strings, Wedding Decorations, Flickr, Wedding Countdown, Anya's Rainbow Hair Blog

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Friday, September 10, 2010

Wedding dress inspiration, the Barbie way!

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Lets face it this pint sized princess has it all, from gorgeous [albeit doll] men, to fast cars, more careers then you can shake a stick at and numerous luxury 'dream' apartments, condos and mansions that when it comes to wedding dresses we expect some serious inspiration.


Will you be wearing a Barbie inspired wedding dress to your wedding?

Images from Chris & Carmel, Fashion Crazed, iOffer, Bride Chic, Shopping Blog, Rainbow Skill, Question Etc, WebshotsWow Dolls, Angelic Dreamz
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