"Real" advice from "Real" Brides

When you are planning one of the most important and memorable days of your life, it is always a good idea to get solid advice from experienced Wedding planners, professionals in the industry and "Real" Brides who have first-hand knowledge of "The Big Day".

My advice would be to listen to all of the positive experiences as well as some of the "not so positive" and weigh all the information very carefully. Do your homework and research areas that are not at all familiar to you, such as "is a destination Wedding less expensive than having a small but intimate reception locally" or "are the special flowers you want "in season" for your December Wedding"?

With that being said, take a look at this video that Alliance Video Productions, in Tabernacle, NJ put together. Tom interviewed "Real" Brides and Grooms and let them speak candidly about their Wedding planning experiences. I love the mannequin idea and ESPECIALLY the handcrafted quilt that was personalized by the Wedding guests. How creative!!!

http://alliancevideousa.com/blog/?cat=12

"Something blue" tradition

Did you ever wonder where the Bridal tradition
Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue and a lucky sixpence for her shoe

came from?

Well, lots of people do. This cute poem is an old tradition dating back to the Victorian Age. Many of the Wedding traditions we embrace today, including the popularity of the Bridal trousseau, emerged in this very romantic Era. Each item mentioned in this poem is meant to be a good luck token for the Bride. And who doesn't want a little luck? If she carries them on her Wedding day then her marriage will be happy. The vast majority of my customers definitely follow this tradition and have quite a few options when selecting the "something blue" portion of this poem. I will explain what each line represents and then give a few good ideas for getting the "lucky" items you need. (Antique Victorian Bride photo courtesy of: http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3249/2678307006_e54002eae0.jpg)

First let's start with the "Something old". These words symbolize CONTINUITY with the Bride's family and past. Some beautiful ideas for this include a cherished piece of jewelry from Grandma, a bonnet from the Bride's Christening day, a keepsake hankie from Mom's Wedding day or an antique piece of lace stitched into the hem of her gown.

"Something new" represents OPTIMISM and HOPE for the Bride's future and what lies ahead for her. Now speaking from a woman's point of view, aren't we always optimistic when buying something new? That is certainly true and can be easily achieved through the new purchase of a Wedding gown, a gorgeous pair of sparkly earrings and bracelet (pictured left, courtesy of A Beautiful Touch), fabulous high heels (courtesy of something old, something new blog) or something very sweet and sentimental. The list goes on and on...

The "something borrowed" portion of this poem is supposed to be obtained through a happily married relative or friend, whose good fortune in marriage hopefully will carry over to the Bride. Many of "my" Brides find this to be the most challenging aspect of this traditional poem, I think because of style differences or preferences. They often borrow a pretty purse, a small piece of antique jewelry or a sentimental item such as a small family heirloom that has emotional value to the Bride.

Now, as for the "something blue" item of this poem, the color blue has been connected to Weddings far before the Victorian Age. In ancient Rome, Brides wore blue to represent LOVE, FIDELITY and MODESTY. This calming hue has also been chosen by early Christians to dress the Virgin Mary. Therefore, PURITY, is also associated with this color. And this last fact, which I find very interesting, is that before the late 19th century, blue was a popular color for Wedding gowns. Think about this proverb, "Marry in blue, lover be true".

The modern Bride can be extremely creative with finding her "something blue". There are plenty of contemporary and trendy, as well as traditional items to choose from. We carry many personalized options, such as silk and cotton panties (pictured above and sold in our Boutique), embroidered lace hankies and


monogrammed "dress tags" that are stitched in blue thread and secured to the hem of the Bride's gown. Also, if you want to show your individuality, choose the blue crystal "i do" shoe appliques (pictured above and sold in our Boutique), or a blue stoned bracelet (pictured above left and sold in our Boutique), toe ring or ankle bracelet. Or possibly a blue Swarovski crystal pin that you can fasten to your dress or bouquet (we carry all of these items in our boutique). Additionally, you can select a beautiful lace garter and coordinating hankie that is embellished with a petite blue ribbon. The only thing that limits you is your imagination!!

And finally, a silver sixpence in the bride's shoe represents WEALTH and FINANCIAL SECURITY. A sixpence was a coin that was minted in Britain from 1551 to 1697. Back in Scottish custom, a groom put a silver coin under his foot for good luck. It should be in the LEFT shoe for the best possible luck! Today, a copper penny is sometimes substituted, although we do sell the sixpence.

So there you have it! The tradition of the cute little poem that we have all grown up to know and love but wondered what does it mean? Now you know, so you can start collecting your good luck tokens!!!

"International" Flower Style

With a hint of Spring in the air and the hopeful anticipation of April "showers" on the way, (Bridal that is), I thought I would give you a little inspiration for planning your beautiful Bridal bouquet.

These gorgeous bouquets are styled with French flair. Some are free-flowing with a Jardin (garden) style, others are a bit more sophisticated. My favorite is the vibrant Parisian-chic bouquet wrapped with pale blue ribbon (below left). I provided the link below for more inspiration. While you're there, check out their advice on style and look at lots of pretty pictures!

http://www.stylemepretty.com/2009/02/17/french-bouquets-design-inspiration-and-color-trends-for-2009

Now let's take a trip on over to Italy. The annual Philadelphia Flower Show is coming to town March 1 - 8. The theme this year is Bella Italia! Definitely a great way to get inspiration for your Wedding and a perfect way to welcome Spring. There are hundreds of free how-to demonstrations and lectures, wine and food tastings, lots of shopping and plenty of beautiful plants and flowers to marvel at!

http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html

In the mood for love!

Happy Valentine's Day! If you need a little help planning a memorable evening, you'll definitely need to use this "50 hot Valentine's Day dates" ultimate resource guide to stimulate your imagination. It is quite creative, very enticing and extremely entertaining to say the least. Some suggestions may not necessarily be your style, but you will certainly enjoy the reading and probably giggle a little. I have a few tips of my own before you begin:-)...

TIP #1: If you feel the need to "vamp it up" for Valentine's Day (or any other day for that matter:-), skip their recommendation of going to Victoria's Secret for some lingerie. We carry flirty babydolls by Betsey Johnson that will catch more than an eyeful:-)

TIP #2: If you are a mature adult and are not interested in getting arrested for indecent exposure, bypass her idea of skinny dipping in the moonlight, unless it is in your own backyard! Lol!!!!! The key word is REMOTE location here ladies:-)

TIP #3: Have fun planning whatever you do! This way, even if your plan doesn't go exactly as you wished, you have a good excuse to perfect it another holiday (or next week if you like!!).

TIP #4:

Make a special cocktail or signature drink especially for this fun-filled evening. Check out the "Flirtini"... the ingredients are listed on this website and it sounds yummy...

TIP #5: Love is what makes the world go 'round. If you're newly engaged or just "crazy in love", browse this website for advice on love and relationships, you'll be hooked:-)

http://ideas.thenest.com/love-and-sex-advice/anniversaries-dating-ideas/Articles/valentines-day-date-night-ideas.aspx?page=10

Time to get "cozy"

I can tell a busy Bridal season is quickly approaching because of the number of calls I receive about "cozy" gifts. Inquiring customers want something a little different than the "same old" things off the registry. Don't get me wrong, we need our pots and pans, fine china and food processors but taking a more personalized and love driven approach always gets more ooohs and ahhhs from the crowd.

Relatives and friends love to shower the happy couple with special gifts that are personalized with their new Mr. and Mrs. title. The most popular sets are comfy terrycloth wraps and luxury knit chenille robes with coordinating soaps, hand towels, pillowcases and linens (all of these items are available in our boutique). Adding essential oils, beautifully scented lotions, fragrant candles and other personal care items that the Newlyweds love, will make your gift truly unforgettable. Also, if this is a group gift and the budget allows, gift certificates from their favorite spa for a massage, facial or manicure would fit in nicely.

You can turn this romantic and novel idea into a much more elegant gift by selecting a unique container to hold them. Oversized baskets embellished with sumptuous materials or a stacked and graduated assortment of fabric covered boxes, will make quite an impressive statement. This fine presentation, is tremendously increasing the "wow factor" of your fabulous gift! If you really want to go over-the-top, try adding a bottle of champagne and flutes that are custom engraved with the couples name and Wedding date.

Helpful tip: Adding decadent treats or fruits, such as chocolate covered strawberries, is a great idea. But...NOT if the other other items are heavily scented!!! You do not want the smell of the lotions, candles, etc., being transferred into the fruit. Choose one or the other.

Catherine Tanzi and Eric Kennedy - October Wedding

Over the years, I have received so many beautiful photographs and thank you letters from "my" Brides. I am excited that now I have the opportunity to share some of their gorgeous photos and ideas from their unforgettable Wedding day. I am sure they will be inspiring to the future Brides-to-be!

Catherine Tanzi and Eric Kennedy were married on October 12, 2008 (what a perfect Italian and Irish combination)! Since their Wedding was in autumn, they selected a rich and vibrant color palette, that consisted of browns, oranges, and berries. These colors are consistently carried throughout their Wedding and are prevalent in the choice of Bridesmaid dresses, floral bouquets, the decorations on their Wedding cake and favors.

The month of October is a stunning and picturesque time of year, which is so accurately reflected with all of these fine details. I love the chocolate brown dresses that are so strongly contrasted with the eye-catching orange bouquets. The Wedding cake, well, just "takes the cake" and the wine favors are a very sweet ending to a picture-perfect day!

Cat had the Wedding of a lifetime and was kind enough to come back and share her entire album! It was beautiful!! I was fortunate enough to meet Cat and her parents, early on in her Wedding planning phase (I provided the hand-calligraphy on her Wedding invitations). She also provided a small list of vendors that she used and would very happily refer...











Bridal Gown and Bridesmaid dresses - Irma's Bridal, Cherry Hill, NJ
Flowers - David Roche, Paulsboro, NJ
Photography - Capone Photography, Stratford, NJ

Special thanks to Capone Photography for providing the beautiful photographs. I included a link to their website below for further information.




www.caponephotography.com

Bring on the BLING for Mom

My Wedding boutique, A Beautiful Touch, is participating in a Bridal Show this Sunday, February 8, at 12 noon, at The Merion in Cinnaminson, NJ. In addition to the beautiful gifts we give away to one lucky Bride at the Show, we have a little something special for the MOB and MOG! These crystal pins can embellish a tote bag, lapel or whatever you like. They each retail for $29.95.

And the winners are...
Nancy Martin, Haddon Heights, NJ (MOB) and
Catherine Ferrara, Turnersville, NJ (MOG)

Congratulations!!!

The "Wow Factor"!

Creating unexpected touches that instantly surprise and delight your guests is what we call the "wow factor". They can be as small as adding a unique DIY (do-it-yourself) detail to your placecards, or something more substantial, such as the show-stopping floral design that embellishes the aisle seat in this featured photograph. The oversized philodendron leaf is what makes this touch so dramatic and sensational. I love it!

I enjoy when I see my Brides come up with creative and personalized projects that will enhance their Wedding and make it a truly one-of-a-kind celebration. I hope to see and share some of their inspirational ideas!

(Photo courtesy: Ana Ortiz & Noah Lebenzon's destination Wedding in Rincon, Puerto Rico)

Just Engaged!!

Congratulations! If you are recently engaged, your head is probably whirling with a million different ideas. BUT, before you even consider going out dress shopping, there are few things that you should do before that. InStyle magazine has a list of 6, very to the point, tips that you will need to think about.

I included a link below so you can get started...ALSO, while your there, check out the Beauty section and start experimenting with your Hollywood Hair Makeover! Make sure you upload YOUR photo it is more authentic that way!!

http://www.instyleweddings.com/weddings/gallery/0,,20245251,00.html?cid=winter-engaged

Love the antique ring!!! (Photo courtesy of http://www.ifiancee.com/wedding-rings/antique.html)

NOTE: We are participating in a Bridal Show, on Sunday, February 8 at 12 noon...

The Merion
Rt. 130
Cinnaminson, NJ

Picture Perfect!

This article in Modern Bride was really insightful. Mastering these easy techniques and tips, such as posturing, lipstick application etc., will help you take more flattering pictures anytime!!!

http://www.brides.com/fashion/dresses/feature/slide/169110/#_slide=169114_chip=0