Archive for the ‘Blogs’ Category

Take the book out of guest book with options that double as home decoration.

• If your wedding has a theme, extend it to the guest book. For example, for a seaside exchange of vows, place a bounty of shells on a table with a gold-leaf marker and a footed glass bowl. Guests can sign the shells and place them inside the bowl. Getting married in a ski town? Order a pair of vintage wooden skis, or even an old sled, from eBay and have guests sign it instead.

• Provide smooth rocks from a sentimental location (perhaps the lake where you first vacationed) and ask guests to sign them with paint-style oil markers or enamel-based metallic pens (check with supplier). Place them in a glass cylinder, then display.
• Prop a canvas from an art-supply store on an easel and place paint, brushes, and felt-tip markers nearby for guests to sign and illustrate. You’ll take home an original piece of art.
• Place a variety of pre-stamped postcards on a table so guests can write you short notes that will greet you when you return home from your honeymoon. Open one a day for as long as they’ll last, or save them and read them on your first anniversary.
• Provide a stack of construction-paper strips (like the kind used in grade school to make paper chains) and ask each guest to write a message on one link that he or she then attaches to the chain. Beginning the day after your honeymoon, remove a link and read it together to relive your big day.
• For a destination wedding, hang a vintage map of a region (see vintagemaps.com) in a special place at the reception and ask guests to sign it. Frame the map and hang it in a place of pride at home.
• Purchase a bisque platter from a local pottery shop and ask guests to sign it with a special pencil or marker (ask the pottery expert for advice), then return it to the shop to have it glazed and refired. Hang it on a wall, or rest it on a key piece of furniture.
• Pick up a gorgeous coffee table book that relates to your interests as a couple or to your wedding destination, then encourage guests to jot down notes in the page margins.
• Create a makeshift photo booth with a digital camera, a tripod, and a chalkboard. Guests can write their well wishes on the board and display it in the photo. (Make sure the camera has a timer so that guests have time to set up the shot.)
• Hang small squares of fabric from a string and encourage guests to sign them throughout the evening. (Yes, your guest “book” will double as decoration.) After the wedding day, pay a local seamstress or quilter to fashion the squares into a sentimental quilt.

Heather Mayer’s love of photography is expressed through her unique style. Her greatest inspiration comes in being a mother of three and being married to the love of her life.

Heather initially started her photography business on her own and over the last year has partnered up with her best friend/husband. Together they have quickly become known for their ability to capture those unique moments and share them in an interesting way. Her husband Richard specializes in lighting and special effects and assists her at weddings and some photography sessions. Their clients have said that they hire them with the goal in mind to acquire a Heather Mayer original piece of artwork for their home to cherish for years.http://heathermayerphotography.com/

Whether it be on location or in your home they desire to provide you beautifully honest images that you can be proud of.

Heather makes the couples feel comfortable and capture the romantic moments for the Bride and Groom, here is some examples.

What’s the significance of candy-coated almonds? Find out this and more charming traditions from around the globe.

• India: Hindu weddings include a ritual called saptapadi, a religious rite that traditionally involves the bride and groom taking seven steps around a ceremonial fire. The steps go hand in hand with seven vows, representing nourishment, strength and health, spirituality, happiness, progeny, longevity, and friendship and fidelity. Under Hindu law, the marriage is not legal until the saptapadi is complete.
• Mexico: It’s customary for the groom to give the bride 13 gold coins, trece monedas de oro, to represent his commitment, trust, and confidence in her. Her acceptance means that she receives his trust and confidence unconditionally, with total dedication and prudence. The coins are then blessed by the priest during the ceremony.
• Italy: Food figures big in an Italian wedding―even before the reception begins. At the end of the ceremony, candy-coated almonds, called confetti, meant to represent the sweetness in life, are tied into small bags and tossed to the bride and groom. The bags are also presented to guests as wedding favors.
• Sri Lanka: Buddhist weddings take place on beautifully carved wooden platforms called magul poru.
• Morocco: Before the wedding, a Moroccan bride has her hands and feet painted with henna tattoos to represent good luck, protection, and the transition from unwed woman to wife.
• China: A bride is virtually guaranteed a good hair day for the wedding, since a “good luck woman” (any woman who has a healthy son, husband, or daughter) prepares the bride’s hair for the ceremony. The hair is combed four times.
• Ireland: A bride sews an ornament in the shape of a horseshoe into her dress for good luck, or she may carry a horseshoe in her bouquet.
• Brazil: It’s customary for a bride to be fashionably late to her wedding. This helps ensure that the groom will not see her in her wedding dress before the ceremony begins.
• Kenya: The day after the “real” wedding, Swahili brides are the focus of a ceremony called kupamba. It’s a chance for the bride and other women to show off elaborate dresses and hairstyles.

Dazzle your guests—and your groom—with a gorgeous pin, comb, or headband tucked into your hair.

Dessy Pearl Bridal Tiara

Let your inner princess loose with this pearl-encrusted crown.

Wear your hair up, or do loose waves for a softer romantic look.

Ban.Do Bridal Classic Bow

A sweet solution for the bride who wants to take off her veil at the reception but doesn’t want to sacrifice chicness: a petite ribbon headband

J Crew Crystal Comb

For subtle bling, tuck a crystal comb into the top of a low messy bun.

A simple and classic accessory, the piece can easily be used to dress up any special-occasion outfit post-wedding.

Marie Hayden Beige Romantic Beaded Headband

A beautiful bejeweled headband is the perfect accompaniment to an ivory or off-white dress. Perfect for the bride with a cropped hairstyle.

Jennifer Behr Crystal Wing

Play up a dress with a vintage feel by slipping this 1920s-inspired pin into your hair for a side-swept look. Or slide it into a low bun for sophisticated style.

L. Erickson Crystal Blitz Lock

A more casual bride—or one who has danced the night away—will like this sparkly barrette made to pull medium to thick hair back into a polished pony.

Rounding up your “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue” can be surprisingly fun. Usually the “something new” is a no-brainer, thanks to your many wedding purchases. But if you insist, you can use it as an excuse to hit up your groom for a gift. (Tennis bracelet, anyone?) As for the others, try these ideas:

• Why not don wedding bands from both of your grandmothers on your right-hand ring finger?
• Stash an antique British sixpence in your left shoe. (It’s supposed to bring good luck.)
• Ask to borrow a family Bible for the ceremony or an uncle’s luxury car to chauffeur you to the reception.
• Have your initials and wedding date embroidered onto your dress lining in baby blue.
• Paint your toenails in a sparkly and trend-worthy shade of blue.

Here, some of the meanings ascribed in North America to popular blooms.

There is a language of flowers―whether you or anyone at your wedding is fluent in this language is another question. One idea: Give each bridesmaid a bouquet featuring a signature flower whose meaning suits her personality. Attach a note to the bouquet explaining why you picked that bloom for her. Here are some of the hidden meanings.

Amaranthus: Constancy and fidelity
Amaryllis: Pride, pastoral beauty
Anemone: Abandonment, forsakenness, sincerity, fragility
Chrysanthemum: Happiness and long life
Chrysanthemum (White): Truth
Chrysanthemum (Yellow): Secret admirer
Chrysanthemum (Red): Love
Daffodil (a.k.a. Narcissus): Respect, good fortune, chivalry, unrequited love
Daisy: Innocence, loyal love, purity
Forget-Me-Not: Faithful love and memory, true love
Iris: Faith and wisdom, inspiration
Ivy: Fidelity, wedded love, affection
Lilac: First love
Lily: Purity and sweetness
Lily of the Valley: Renewed happiness and humility
Orchid: Love and beauty
Peony: Happiness and prosperity
Rose (Red): Love and desire
Rose (White): Purity and innocence
Sweet Pea: Departure
Tulip: True love
Violet: Modesty
Zinnia: Thoughts of friends, thoughts of absent friends

Pick the dining scenario that whets your appetite, and order it up for your Big Day.

Sit-Down Dinner

Who should choose it: Couples celebrating at a catering facility, club, or ballroom, as well as oenophiles who want to pair each course with wine.

Who should avoid it: Party animals. Dinners take time―spent eating, not dancing or clinking glasses with anyone beyond your table.

What to ask: The real price difference between seated dinners and buffets. You may assume plated dinners are pricier, but often they are not, because the caterer knows exactly how much food to order and prepare, whereas buffets have to accommodate multiple trippers.

Buffets

Who should choose it: Those who want to offer several entrées. Planning a day wedding? Brunch dishes like muffins and fruit platters look lovely on a buffet, and omelets can be made to order.

Who should avoid it: Couples with a 100-plus guest list (lines will form).

What to ask: How long the food will sit out. Typically, buffets have a shelf life of about 2 to 2½ hours―for both taste and health reasons. Also ask how the waitstaff will direct buffet traffic (it’s best to invite tables to head to the buffet one at a time) and clear dirty plates.

Cocktail Party

Who should choose it: Duos on a budget. You can offer hors d’oeuvres for less money than a sit-down meal. (Just be sure to keep the party under three hours. If you go longer, the cost difference between the two parties is negligible.) This may also appeal to couples with a 300-plus guest list and second-time-arounders.

Who should avoid it: Brides seeking the spotlight. Cocktail parties tend to skip introductions of the couple, first dances, and dances with parents.

What to ask: The best time to schedule it. An 8 p.m. reception clues in guests to grab a bite before, whereas a 5 p.m. start time signals supper

Casual Barbeque

Who should choose it: Couples with close-knit friends and families who would enjoy the informality of a backyard, a barn, or a park wedding.

Who should avoid it: Control freaks. If your friends are firing up the park grill themselves, burgers may be burned, food may go cold, and wayward Frisbees might come your way. You could hire a caterer, but staff may be trampling through your kitchen if you host the barbecue at your home.

What to ask: Will the caterer have to bring in a cook tent? Even if you have access to a great gourmet kitchen, it might not be up to catering standards

The officiant sets the tone for your wedding so do your homework to make sure it’s a ceremony you’ll love.

1. Can you give us the ceremony we want?

Find out if the officiant will marry you if you write your own vows and design your own ceremony, and if he or she can help―suggesting readings, music, and so on. Make sure the officiant will perform an interfaith wedding (if needed) or will allow photography or videography. Basically, ask about all the particulars that apply to your case. Get a feel for the officiant’s manner, tone of voice, and spiritual nature. Also, find out what the ceremony will entail, as well as its estimated length (a piece of information your caterer may ask for).

2. What’s your experience?

You will want to know how many weddings this person has performed, especially weddings like yours. Ask for referrals from satisfied customers (five is a fair request, even if you don’t contact them all).

3. Are you flexible?

Find out if the officiant is willing to travel to your venue. Also make sure that the officiant has a contingency plan in case he or she cannot make it.

4. What are your credentials?

Ensure that the officiant is licensed or registered to perform a wedding in your state by contacting the city clerk. You can also ask the officiant which seminary he or she was ordained through, then contact that seminary. Alternatively, the National Association of Wedding Officiants, nawoonline.com, can check to see if the officiant is licensed (for free). Years down the road, you wouldn’t want to discover that your marriage is not legal.

5. How often will we meet?

Do you want an officiant who will consult with you or simply show up to perform the ceremony? Most marrieds-to-be want the officiant to run the rehearsal. Is he or she available by phone or e-mail if you have questions? Some members of the clergy require couples to have counseling before they will marry them. If that’s the case, make sure you are given a clear schedule that isn’t overwhelming.

6. How much do you charge?

Know what, exactly, you will be paying for. Talk about deposits and types of payment, as well as cancellation and refund policies. Inquire about fees for traveling out of town, which include transportation costs, hotels and meals, and costs of (commuting) time. The wedding officiant is the person who typically must fill out the wedding certificate and send it in, so it is good to confirm that your officiant will do this as well.

7.Will you be joining us at the reception?

Be sure to plan for an extra meal if the officiant agrees to attend.

I was so excited last Saturday to be able to attend Kaspars Open House. It was a wonderful experience to be able to see their facility and taste all the treats. I had a Casar salad, seafood broth soup with shrimp and cod, lamb warped in eggplant, chicken rice spring roll, they offered a Taco Bar which I had to try there little mini pork taco, their desert table was amazing which of course I tried everything on that table but by far I had to have a 2nd on the Passion fruit moose. Just pure heaven in your mouth and you don’t feel so guilty afterwards. They offered selected wines, beer and delightful cosmopolitans but I was being good and had a soda. I actually won one of the raffles during the event, some amazing Douglas fur Vinegar, Lavender salts and some 5 Asian spices. Again it was a great experience and a relaxing atmosphere. Please visit their website for upcoming events. http://www.kaspars.com/