Doggie Style

 Although you say “I’m marrying my best friend”, what about having the true man’s best friend standing by your side as you say I DO. 

We all know that a man’s best friend is his dog.  You might be asking yourself how a dog could ever be appropriate for such an elegant affair, but trust me, having that furry K-9 by your side is truly a remarkable feeling.  Not only will your wedding be unique, but it will also be very personal and represent what type of couple you are.   
Having your buddy there for support is great, but make sure they are dressed for the occasion.  There are so many different stores and websites that sell dog apparel for special events.  Might as well have your pet be dressed to impress.  Whether it’s just a bowtie, tiara, top hat or full out tuxedo or gown, there are so many options for making your pet truly fit in with the rest of the crowd. 
Depending on your preference, dogs can be used in many different ways at a wedding.   Whether they sit quietly at the altar acting as moral support to the bride and groom or walking down the aisle to transport the rings, dogs are a great way to really impress your guests. 

Not feeling the whole dog at a wedding idea?  No Problem! You can still incorporate your little guy or gal by incorporating them in a wedding photo shoot.  You can still dress your pet up and have them feel like they are just as important.  The bride and groom can also pose with the pet either before or after the ceremony so you can capture the perfect ‘family portrait’ without actually having to deal with the doggie day-care at the wedding.  

The Original Runner Company

Original Runner Company

Many brides dream of having the “red carpet” rolled out for their special day.  Now they can have it! Even better, brides can now customize their aisle runners and have the grand entrance that they have been dreaming of.  While watching Shark Tank on television, I came across a company that not only creates custom aisle runners, but they created the first NON-SLIP aisle runner.  This is a fantastic idea because many venue locations do not allow aisle runners because they can be dangerous.  Runners can blow in the wind, wrinkle up, and be slippery when wet which makes this a very difficult runway for the bridal party and bride to walk down.

 

The Original Runner Company has come up with the non-slip, rubber backing to all of their custom aisle runners so that each bride is guaranteed a safe, yet fashionable runway for her wedding.  The Original Runner Company can customize the bride’s runner to say anything.  They can do monograms, patters, or floral designs that come in all different lengths and colors.  Located in Montclair, NJ they are very assessable and affordable. 

Photograph By: Michael Simon

Every bride dreams of becoming a celebrity on their wedding day.  The Original Runner Company now lets you feel just like that…a celebrity.  A few celebrity brides that they have created aisle runners for are Kim Kardashion, Ashlee Simpson, Fergie, Bethenny Frankel, and Nicole Richie.  These runners are unique and tastefully done.  They seem to have been made specifically for each individual bride with great attention to detail.

Not only do I feel this is a great concept, but I also think they are gorgeous! The website allows you to order a swatch from any runner that you wish.  Then it is mailed to your home for FREE!  Now you can see the quality of the fabric and test out the rubber backing and actually see that it DOES NOT MOVE! That’s why I am personally ordering an Original Runner for my own wedding next summer.  I love the fact that I don’t have to worry about slipping on my runway or tripping on the fabric.  The rubber backing truly keeps the runners sturdy and in-place.  I am able to choose from a variety of colors, fabrics, patters, and textures and even put a customized monogram or design.  My options are endless! 

Fairy Tales Do Come True

The day has finally come…I’M ENGAGED!

As usual, I am going to be writing about weddings, but this time I’m talking about my own!  I was proposed to on December 22, 2011 at approximately 11:30PM.

It was pouring rain outside when Philip Kent took me to the park near our Hamilton, NJ home and got down on one knee.  Not caring about the rain, we both stood outside gazing into each other’s eyes.  As he told me how much he loved me and how I am truly his best friend, so many thoughts were running through my mind.  I couldn’t grasp the thought that I was actually going to be engaged and be given the chance to spend the rest of my life with the man of my dreams. 

When I heard the words, “Will You Marry Me”? I stood in the rain and realized that this was the moment I’ve waited for my entire life.  Of course I said YES!

I’ve been dreaming of getting married since I was a little girl.  Writing about weddings has allowed me to live the special day through others experiences and play pretend while researching the different ideas to create that perfect day. 

I finally have a reason to be obsessed with weddings because soon I will be planning my own! The assortment of bridal magazines and wedding shows that I am completely addicted to will now come to use as I plan my very own special day. 

I now know how it feels to be the luckiest girl in the world because I have finally found my true love. 

Being engaged to my best friend is truly a blessing and makes everything that much better because I can now say that I have found my Prince Charming for my Fairytale Wedding!

Fall Wedding Trends

Fall can be a tricky season to dress for. Although leggings, sweatshirts and a great pair of uggs are ideal for this type of weather, brides are having a bit of difficulty. 

Some fall wedding tips that are ideal for these crazy weather patterns are sleeves, lace, rich colors, and thicker fabrics.  To find the perfect fall wedding gown some hints are to include a sleeve of some sort and play with the idea of having an A-Line, Ball gown, or Trumpet type of style.  These silhouettes will go nicely with the fall theme and also allow for more fabric and underlay that will help with the brisk breeze.  Some fabrics that may be considered are dubioni, moire, lace, or velvets. Dubioni has a thicker, coarser fiber material while moiré is a heavy, silk taffeta.  Some may say that velvet is a winter fabric, but if done right, velvet can be incorporated into the gown in just the right amount and at just the right places.  When choosing the color of the gown some of the fall trends are leaning towards the champagnes or ivories to soften the gown and not have such a crisp whites which may give off more of a summer or winter feel. 

When shopping around for the perfect fall bouquet, some flowers to keep in mind are dahlias, roses, calla lilies, hydrangeas, hypericum berries, lotus pods, and aster.  These are a few of the popular fall flowers which all come in multiple rich, fall colors.  If you want to incorporate some other flowers that I have not listed, that is fine! Although these flowers may be a fall favorite, many other flowers can also be used for the season.  When choosing flowers, keep an eye out for rich colors such as; reds, oranges, yellows, greens, gold’s, browns, purples, and burgundies.  These are great fall colors that will bring color and life to any type of wedding!

As you can see, fall can be fun to dress for even if you are the bride!  There are so many possibilities when choosing fabrics, flowers, and colors.  Thinking too much into it can drive you crazy….sit back and just think about what fall is all about…COLOR, WARMTH, SPICE.  Pick warm, inviting fabrics while keeping the colors bright and playful, and then spice it all up with some great embellishments, overlays, and lace!  Your wedding can be as warm and inviting or hot and steamy as you want! Just make sure that you bring a jacket, shrug, or shawl for those brisk fall nights!

Saying "I DO" to the Shoe

 

Bridal shoes are actually just as important as the dress.  The wrong shoe could throw off the entire look of the dress and style.  When picking out shoes you need to think Comfort, Comfort, Comfort!

Sure you could buy a pair of 5”  stilettos, but you’ll probably end up sitting in the corner at your own wedding!

Bridal shoes come in many colors and styles.  With the variety of whites that shoes come in, you should be able to find a pair to match perfectly with your gown.  In order to find the right color you may want to bring the dress along or a swatch to compare the colors. 

Some suggestions for the bride-to-be is to break the shoes in a few weeks before the wedding day.  You can avoid the agony of stiff shoes and blisters by walking around the house in the shoes, so that your wedding day will be pain free. 

Also, try not to get a heel that makes you taller than your groom.  Choose heels that flatter both you and the groom so that your pictures will look fantastic and your man won’t feel insecure. 

Dress Shopping 101

Dress shopping is a day that many girls have dreamed of their entire lives.  It’s a time for loved ones to surround you and tell you how beautiful you are and help to pick out the perfect dress. 

It may seem overwhelming the first time you walk into the boutique, but trust me, this is a moment you’ll never forget.  Don’t be stressed out.  Take it all in and embrace this special time with open arms. 

To have the best experience of dress shopping, there are a few tips that every bride should keep in mind. 

First thing’s first, don’t bring everyone and their mother dress shopping.  Having a large party come along only brings drama and way too many opinions.  Brides will find themselves trying to please too many people and end up not pleasing herself. 

Keep it simple.  The best way to go is to bring your mother, mother-in-law, aunt, sister, or your maid of honor.  Two or three people will be able to state their opinions, but not sway you away from the dress of your dreams.  These few people in your life are the one’s you can most likely trust to give you constructive criticism.  More than four people often leads to hurt feelings and a very confused bride. 

Another tip is to leave plenty of time for the dress to ship and be altered.  A dress can take six to eight weeks to be delivered and that’s not including anything else.  Once the dress comes in, you still need to go through a few fittings and alterations which can also take weeks to accomplish.  To avoid the dress of not having the dress ready on time, purchase the dress around nine months before the wedding day. 

Some brides enjoy the shopping experience so much that they not only choose one beautiful gown, but they wind up with two!

Having two dresses allows the bride to have a more traditional or formal look for their ceremony and then can spice up their reception with a flirty, sexy dress.  It gives the guests that element of surprise and keeps things fun and interesting. 

The last tip for the bride on her shopping day would be to do her homework.  Brides need to research the types of gowns that they like and know the different styles and fabrics.  Knowing this information will allow the brides to work alongside the consultants and be taken seriously.  By knowing the facts people will respect you more and you’ll also be less likely to get ripped off when it comes down to the purchasing. 

Following these quick and easy steps will help the bride have the most success on her shopping spree and best of all, the stress will be left at home!

Matchmaker

 

So many people think “white” when they think wedding.  It used to be that way, but today,

anything goes.  Depending on theme, color scheme, and location, wedding dresses can reflect

anything that you want. 

If the wedding theme is gothic, you may consider a black gown or a white dress with black laced detailing.  If you’re doing a tropical destination wedding the dress may want to

reflect the mood by choosing an ivory, off white, or blush pink gown to get a golden or pink

shimmer while walking down the aisle. 

Whether you like the antique feel or the garden party atmosphere, the dress color can be that perfect statement for the final picture that you’ve been searching for.  The most common colors that dresses come in are white/off-white, ivory, antique white, antique gold, and blush pink.  These are the more traditional colorings, but today we see every color imaginable. 

Being able to match the dress to the overall feel of the wedding will distinguish the

difference between your average wedding to your outrageous, one-of-a-kind wedding

spectaculars!