Tag: wedding news
People always ask us… what are your best sellers?? Whether they’re concerned for trend purposes or overall styling, our Top Sellers can fluctuate throughout the year.
But as it stands today, the numbers are in! Here are our top selling porducts for 2011! Feel free to check them out, send them on to a friend or purchase one for yourself :)
courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography via marilynskeepsakes.com
courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography via marilynskeepsakes.com
courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography via marilynskeepsakes.com
courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography via marilynskeepsakes.com
courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography via marilynskeepsakes.com
courtesy of Lindsey Kroemer Photography via marilynskeepsakes.com
December 20, 2011
courtesy of coutureclosetboutique.com
These days, a wedding isn’t just a brief moment in time… it’s a monumental event for the ages! In fact, I’m often reminded of a quote from Wedding Date - the 2005 film starring Debra Messing and Dermot Mulroney (dream!) - when I think of just how epic some weddings have become. Shortly after Kat Ellis (Messing) arrives in London for her sister’s wedding, her mom (played by Holland Taylor) informs Kat that:
“This is a marathon, not a sprint. We’ve got welcome cocktails today. Then, tomorrow’s Young People in the Park and Stags and Hens. Friday’s the picnic, then the rehearsal dinner, and since you left you no margin for jet lag, I need you to hydrate.”
Of course not everyone goes that over the top when planning their big day, but that doesn’t mean their day feels anything less than a marathon. From sun up to sun down, a bride, her groom and everyone else in between have a lot of ground to cover… and while some might say the key to duration is hydration… others are more lenient towards sustenance of the chewable variety.
And in big cities like New York, Los Angeles and Austin, Texas, grub is precisely what they get! These big time metro poles are famous for their food truck industries, which they are becoming all the rage in wedding day agendas! In LA, for instance, mobile grub doesn’t get much bigger than In-N-Out Burger, which has been providing years worth of service to brides and grooms looking to keep their guests full and focused well into the night.
It’s also a great way to talk to guests you may have missed! One bride (pictured below) used In-N-Out Burger at her reception and said, “We didn’t do a receiving line at the reception, but while everyone was lined up to order their food my husband and I went down the line and greeted everyone while they waited. It worked out really well and helped fill the time that people were just standing around.”
courtesy of weddingbee.com
Love love love. Of course, there are so many other ways to keep on truckin’ even if there are no trucks.
At my sister and brother-in-law’s wedding a couple years ago, there was a break between the ceremony and reception for the bridal party to get pictures; so, while everyone else was enjoying a wide assortment of hors d’oeuvres and cocktails, the bridal party was schlepping through a park trying to capture the perfect shot. Matt and Jess (the SIL and BIL) didn’t want their favorite people to suffer however and provided all of us with White Castle burgers and fries to go, as a tied-me-over ’til dinner.
You might also consider:
- Food Carts
- Hot Dog Stands
- Popcorn Machines
- Goody Bags
- Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
- Late Night Pizza Delivery
- Midnight Snacks
- Homemade Treats
December 6, 2011
Paul Newman and his bride, Joanne Woodward were married over 50 years, until his death in 2008. (photos courtesy of people.com)
Okay, I have to admit it, when it comes to Hollywood marriages, I – like the rest of the general public – can be pretty skeptical. I figure this has something to do with the media’s spin on most marriages, and the fact that you generally don’t hear about a Hollywood hook-up until it’s on the rocks. Therefore, it’s no surprise that so many of us are skewed so easily.
However, after running across the Wikipedia article featuring Hollywood Marriages that stood the test of time, my skeptical spirit was uplifted, and I was given a whole list of reasons to believe in the power of “I do.” Maybe it’s the fact that it’s December 1 and my holiday spirit is in full throttle or maybe it’s because I simply love love so much… either way, but I couldn’t help by get all kinds of Christmas cheer after seeing this list of long time lovers — warmed me from the inside out :)
- Norman Lloyd and Peggy Lloyd, 75 years, married June 26, 1936, to her death on August 30, 2011.
- Art Linkletter and Lois Foester, 74.5 years, married November 26 1935 to his death on May 26, 2010.
- Charles Lane and Ruth Covell Lane, 71 years, married from April 12 1931 until her death on November 30, 2002.
- Karl Malden and his wife Mona were married from December 18 1938 to his death on July 1, 2009.
- Sherwood Schwartz and Mildred Seidman (23 December 1941 – 12 July 2011)
- Bob Hope and Dolores DeFina Hope, 69 years, married from 19 February 1934 until his death on 27 July 2003. It was his second marriage, his first being brief.
Bob + Dolores = True Love (photos courtesy of gossiprocks.com and film.guardian.co.uk)
- Bruce Bennett and Jeannette C. Braddock, 67 years, married from January 21 1933 until her death on June 30 2000.
- Sid Caesar and Florence Levy, 67 years, married in July 1943.
- Jane Wyatt and Edgar Bethune Ward, 1 day short of 65 years, married from November 9 1935 until his death on November 8 2000.
- Carl Reiner and Estelle Reiner, nearly 65 years, from December 24 1943 to her death on October 25, 2008.
- Charlton Heston and Lydia Clarke, 64 years, from March 17 1944 to his death on April 5, 2008.
Charlton and Lydia sitting in a tree... K.I.S.S.I.N.G! (photos courtesy of old.gretnatheatre.com and newsimg.bbc.co.uk)
- James Cagney and Frances Vernon, 64 years.
- Ricardo Montalbán and Georgiana Young, 63 years from 1944 to her death in 2007.
- Eli Wallach and Anne Jackson. 62 years, married since March 5, 1948.
Eli and Anne, 62 years and going strong! (photos courtesy of life.com and movies.yahoo.com)
- Robert Young and Betty Henderson, 61 years from 1933 to 1994.
- Fred Zinnemann and Renee Bartlett, 61 years from 1936 to 1997.
- Jack Paar and Miriam Wagner, a little over 60 years. He had been married and divorced to an Irene twice before marrying Miriam.
- Tony Martin and Cyd Charisse, 60 years. Although it was a second marriage for both.
Tony and Cyd proved second time's a charm! (photos courtesy of imdb.com and news.xinhuanet.com)
- Jonathan Winters and Eileen Schauder, 60 years from 1948 to her death on January 11, 2009.
- Eva Marie Saint and Jeffrey Hayden, as the article says they married in 1951.
- Lloyd Bridges and Dorothy Simpson Bridges, nearly 60 years from 1938 to his death in 1998.
- Henny Youngman and Sadie Cohen Youngman, 58 years to her death in 1987.
- Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee, from 1948 to 2005. Second-marriage for her.
Ossie and Ruby had the right stuff! (photos courtesy of community.livejournal.com and upi.com)
- Patrick McGoohan and Joan Drummond, 57 years from 1951 to 2009.
- Robert Mitchum and Dorothy Spence, 57 years, from 1940 to his death in 1997.
- Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara have been married since 1954.
Jerry and Anne prove a sense of humor can go a long way! (photos courtesy of jaydeanhcr.wordpress.com and movies.yahoo.com)
- Mel Blanc and Estelle Rosenbaum were married from 1933 to 1989.
- Bud Abbott and Betty Smith were married for 55 years from 1918 to 1974.
- Danny Thomas and Rose Marie Cassaniti Thomas, from 1936 to his death in 1991.
- Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville were married from 1926 to 1980. Although British, Hitchcock became a naturalized citizen and died in Los Angeles.
- Anita Page and Lieutenant Herschel A. House were married from 1937 to 1991. She had a brief earlier marriage to Nacio Herb Brown that was annulled due to his divorce not being final.
- James Garner and Lois Clarke have been married over 54 years, since August 17, 1956.
JG + LC + True Love! (photos courtesy of people.com and upi.com)
- Arthur Penn and Peggy Maurer were married from 1955 or 1956 to his death in 2010.
- Angela Lansbury and Peter Shaw were married from 1949 to his death in 2003.
Angela and Peter, 'til death did them part. (photos courtesy of silverscreenoasis.com and life.com)
- Frank Capra and Lucille “Lu” Capra were married from 1932 to 1984. It was his second marriage as he had been married to Helen Howell in the 1920s.
- Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn, married from 1942 to 1994. It was a second marriage for both.
- Roy E. Disney was married to Patricia Ann Dailey from 1955 to 2007, but the marriage ended in a “collaborative divorce.”
- Rance Howard and Jean Speegle Howard, 51 years from 1949 to her death in 2000.
- Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, 51 years from 1947 to 1998.
Roy and Dale said yee-haw to marriage for over 50 years! (photos courtesy of posters.ws and sunsethills.cc)
- Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, 1958 to his death in 2008. It was a second marriage for him.
**All from Wikipedia, Hollywood marriages.
December 1, 2011
courtesy of onewed.com
Who doesn’t love the holidays? The gathering of family and friends. The music. The food. The fun. The laughter. The extra time off work (wink, wink). ‘Tis true, my friends. The holiday season really is “the most wonderful time of the year!”
Therefore, I would like to encourage all my lovely ladies in waiting to use this time of year to rev their wedding planning engines into warp speed. Take advantage of all the small pleasures the holidays bring and use them to start checking things off… after all, Santa’s not the only one making a list and checking it twice… you are too!
So, before things get too crazy, consider using some of the following tactics to make the most of your season’s greetings:
- Because the holidays create a time to gather all your loved ones in one area, you can easily get and share advice with other / former brides-to-be. Ask family and friends for their top do’s and don’ts; so, you know what to look for and what to avoid.
- If you find yourself hosting a party, take this time to test out potential caterers, florists, bakers, etc. It’s an ideal time to “try out” who will have what it takes to impress all your guests!
- Since many people vacation during holidays, get with your bridesmaids and go dress shopping. Not only will they provide an honest reaction to your wedding gown options, but you can also start to see what bridesmaids’ dress styles will work for them.
- Take time to practice wedding day hair and makeup. Whether you’re doing it yourself or getting it done, chances are it’s going to be something fancier than usual; so, what better way to show off a fabulous look than when surrounded by family and friends?
- Even benefit from bad weather. After the holiday shopping rush is over and snow is still on the ground, people tend to snuggle up and stay in. I say, “Get out!” Go exploring for interesting ceremony and reception sites, and don’t be afraid to try something new… it just might end up being your ideal location.
- On a tight budget? No problem! There are innumerable post holiday sales that you can gobble up, which will surely help you get the most bang for your buck!
- If anything, use the holiday season to get organized. If you’re sending out holiday cards, you’ll more than likely have a list or people and addresses that you’ll need for invitations. Keep this list handy and be one more step ahead of the game!
Thanks for stopping by and cheers to many, MANY years of happiness!
November 29, 2011
photos courtesy of Michael Simon, Albert Ferreira/Startraks and Nick Saglimbeni via eonline.com
Well, the sanctity of marriage took another blow yesterday when Kim Kardashian announced she had filed for divorce from Kris Humphries after a solid 72 days of wedded bliss, er, amiss. Shocker, I know. But all things considered, 72 days of marriage in Hollywood years is like a Silver Anniversary in regular years; so, mayhaps we should be applauding their valiant effort in holding such high esteem for the ’til death do us part vow.
Yes? No? Maybe?
And while I’m not a fan of bullying (putting others down to lift myself up) or celebrating mediocrity per say. I am a fan of celebrating in general, and in this case, I like to think of how we can turn this 72 day negative into a sublime positive. Because I truly believe behind every storm cloud, there lies a silver lining. And I’m pretty sure I found here :)
Kim K and frisky Kris had a fairytale, $20 schmillion wedding – making every day of their marriage worth a cool $277,777, whoop whoop! – but they still couldn’t make it last… And alas, this is where the upside lies…
I figure, if you’ve been married longer than 72 days, well then, you have beaten the odds and have a cause for celebration! Bust out the champagne glasses and let the toasting begin, because you and your Mister have outlasted a ‘dream come true’ ceremony and 20 million dollar marriage!! Um, can anyone else say amazeballs??
And the celebration train station doesn’t just stop there! Oh no, my friends, it keeps on going! For those of you looking for more reasons to ‘cheers!’ your love, here are some other Hollywood Wedding Whoops-a-daisies that could help you out:
- The hubs and I are vastly approaching our two year anniversary, and we can feel proud to know that our love outlasted a Hollywood great, Humphrey Bogart and his first wife Helen Menken. Their marriage ended in divorce after 17 months, as did Frank Sinatra and Mia Farrow’s.
- And if you’re marriage has gone longer than year, well then pour the wine and cut the cheese because you made it longer than joltin’ Joe DiMaggio and his iconic bride, Marilyn Monroe, who ended their marriage after only 9 months. Also in this category? Funny man favorite Jim Carrey and ex-wife, Lauren Holly, also said bu-bye before a year… ending their nuptial love fest after 10 months.
- Let the WAHOO continue if you’ve made it to even 6 months because you’ve now gone longer than a country singing mega star, an Oscar winning actor and actress and a daughter of a living legend. Kenny Chesney and Renee Zellweger, as well as Nicolas Cage and Lisa Marie Presley all said see ya before they even reached the half year mark!
- Heck, if you’ve only been married for a couple of weeks, why not raise a couple glasses in honor of the fact that you made it longer than sultry siren Carmen Electra and NBA bad boy Dennis Rodman? Their marriage ended after a staggering 10 days!
- And you know what?? Just because we all could use a little more yay in our life… go ahead and pat yourselves on the back if you’ve even been married longer than 57 hours because you made it longer than one of my all time faves, Britney Spears, and her childhood friend, Jason Alexander. They had their marriage annulled after an astounding 56 hours. Yep. Amazing.
So, you see, where one door closes, another one opens, my blog loving brides, and we all can have a reason to celebrate this day! I just hope whoever is writing the check for Kim Kardashian’s next nuptials uses a luckier pen :)
November 1, 2011
courtesy of CNN.com
Just when you thought the #hashtags and Royal Wedding watches were over… the event heard ’round the world rears its way back into ‘ooh la la’ all over again! According to CNN, UK’s Telegraph, and People.com, the Duchess of Cambridge - more widely known as Prince William’s prettier half, Kate Middleton – and her decadent dress have given Buckingham Palace a fiscal cause for celebration.
Profitting millions upon millions in ticket sales, the dress and all its trimmings went on display from late July to October 3, and while exact numbers won’t be known until after the year end audit, first case estimates put more than 600,000 visitors in eye line with the royal wedding WOWSA gown, breaking the previously held record of visitors from 1994 of 420,000.
photos courtesy of people.com
The Alexander McQueen dream dress – designed by Sarah Burton – is considered the Rolls-Royce of wedding wear. Composed of silk gazer and hand-tatted lace intricately comprised with shapes representing the counrties of the UK, this knock out gown also features a 9 foot train and several bling-tastic accessories. Among the ones on display, the Queen Mum’s ‘something borrowed’ 1936 Cartier halo-styled tiara and a pair of Robinson Pelham diamond earrings, a ‘something new’ gift from her parents which featured their family crest.
And the ‘oohing’ and ‘awwing’ doesn’t stop there! While the majority of money raised will go to preserving the Royal Collection – housing thousands of paintings and treasures of the Royal Palace, the Duchess of Cambridge asked that a slice of that ca-ching go to charity. According to the Telegraph:
When she gave permission for the dress to go on display, the Duchess made it clear that she wanted the gown to raise money for charity, and a proportion of the takings will go to the charitable foundation set up by the Duchess and her husband to receive wedding gifts. (telegraph.co.uk)
But what’s next for the dress, one might wonder? Straight to storage, and rightfully so! According to a palace source,
Kate is “keen to ensure that the dress survives undamaged for as long as possible, and so this inevitably means limiting the number of times that it is transported or displayed.” (people.com)
In the meantime, we can all still sigh in remembrance, keep the Royal Wedding pics a Google search away and hold close to a our memory bank, the day a Prince married a Princess.
October 4, 2011
courtesy of movies.tvguide.com
Come on babe, why don’t we paint the town? (bom, bom) And all that Jazz? I’m gonna rouge my knees and roll my stalkings down. (bom, bom) And all that Jazz!
Firstly, I would like to start by saying that I am a HA-HUUGE fan of the Roaring 20s and all that Jazz! Was it an era known for corruption and gangster hullabaloo? Well, yeah. Buuuut it was also a time filled with economic prosperity, trend-setting musicality and over the top fashion. There was a kind of daring romance – both scandalous and progressive – that seemed to encapsulate the 1920s, which has gone unmatched ever since.
And it’s because of that unmatched style that the Twenties have become an excellent source of for brides to find inspiration when planning their big day – scandal aside, of course. Whether it’s in the choice of dress, the kind of favors, the type of venue, equipped with Speakeasy or Cigar bar or simply the overall ambience and atmosphere created, the Roaring 20s leave brides, their grooms and all their guests with a little extra . Check out below and see what I mean:
photos courtesy of joshgoleman.com and pacoandbetty.com
The hubs and I actually took a lot of 1920s style and weaved it into our wedding. My favorite part? All the bridal party dudes were given a little extra swagger when we topped them off with dress fedoras and bowling caps!
courtesy of Jessika Feltz Photography
And if you’re looking for some 1920′s inspired tips and tricks, feel free to check out the 2002 film, Chicago, or read F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby — two incredible representations of the times!
September 22, 2011
courtesy of parati.taconeras.net
I am 27 years old, and if you think I can’t remember the jittery feeling of anticipation I’d get every time I prepared for a weekend slumber party… you’d be seriously mistaken. (I wanted to say “dead wrong” but never really enjoyed the harsh connotation of it, haha!) There was just something about packing PJ’s inside my Care Bear backpack (hollllla to Care-a-lot!) that would send me reeling into excitement OVERLOAD! It still brings a smile on my face even to this day :)
But somewhere along the line of growing up - I’m assuming somewhere between getting my license, going away to college and landing in the constant state of slumber party madness with female roomies – slumber parties seemingly lost their TALLY-HO appeal, and thus, fell off the fun scale altogether.
However, and this is a big however, when my cousin (wad it do, Kimmi!!) sent an email stating that after her rehearsal dinner any and all bridesmaids were invited to her parent’s house (yay, Uncle Rich and Aunt Gail!) for a post-rehearsal, pre-wedding slumber party… the famed frenzy started again!
You see, Kim lives in Chicago, but because most family and friends are still in good ‘ole Indiana, they are doing the “I do” thang here. With no place of her own, she turned to the magic of her childhood home for refuge and extended the welcoming hand to the rest of us as well. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of being in a favorite spot from my youth or the fact that I know it will be an amazeballs time, but I can’t help but feel the same twinge of childhood excitement come over me in preparation for it.
While I highly doubt there will be any pillow fighting in our underoos (sorry to crush your hopes and dreams, fellas), we will more than likely get to spend an evening painting toenails, giving facials, eating junk (how much will be determined by the tightness of our dress alterations, haha!), laughing and simply enjoying each other’s company. I’m sure glory stories of the past will be relived and we’ll all stay up waaay to late, but it will be well worth it to send off our beautiful Kimmi in style!
And as an added bonus, we’ll already be together in the morning for the hair and makeup ladies’ arrival! Dead sere, this pretty little lady is PUMPED!
But the best part is… this could work for anyone! If you’re a bride interested in having all your girls gathered for an evening of pampering, junk food eating, laughing and childhood inspired ridiculousness… why not have a pre-wedding slumber party too?!? This not only gives you one last opportunity to giggle with your girls, but it also ensures that everyone will be ready under one roof when your big day arrives!
It’s fun. It’s simple, and best of all, the details can be left up to you! Make it a high end event with on-hand manicurists and a relaxing masseuse or low brow fun with rolled out sleepers and classic romantic comedies on the big screen… it really can be whatever you want, and what a great way to say goodbye to your old life before starting your new one! Here’s to you and happy slumbering!
September 20, 2011
courtesy of Jessika Feltz Photography
Everyone knows that weddings are nothing more than a numbers game. Okay, so maybe they’re more than just that, but consider this… Everything from the amount set for the budget to the number of guests who’ll be invited, your future nuptials (as anti-romantic as it may seem) really do come down to numbers.
Which is precisely why this upcoming weekend is such an exciting weekend in the wedding world!
Both consecutively perfect and numerically chic, this Saturday will mark the second most popular wedding date of all time! Taking the silver medal only to the ultra lucky 07/07/07 wedding date, 09/10/11 will see over 37,000 couples exchange vows in front of family and friends, and according to theknot.com, this large bridal boo yeah comes as no surprise. September is already a super popular month to marry, but with the date creating such a consistent rarity, it’s almost become a downright phenomenon.
So, raise your glass, stretch out your dancing shoes and prepare to celebrate! This weekend is going to rock them all!
Other Popular Wedding Dates:
- 11/11/11. Even though it’s on a Friday, couples simply can’t resist the sequential sexiness of this mid-November date!
- 2/10/2012. Alright, math nerds. Who can tell me why this date is such a popular one? And no, it’s not because it’s my dad’s birthday, even though he’d probably like to this so :) That’s right. It’s a palindrome! The same backwards as it is forwards.
- 12/13/14. Also falling on a Saturday, this is the last chance for couples to get married on an increasing count wedding date!
September 8, 2011
Erica and Brett Weiss made the best out of poor circumstances and proved not even hurricane forces could stop their love! (photo courtesy of Michael Duva via CNN.com)
Since the dawn of local and national news programs, natural disasters and potentially fatal epidemics have been at the forefront of reporting, and it’s no wonder why. With the general public always looking for a cause to panic – don’t lie, you know we do – it’s not unusual to see how the media can turn even the smallest molehill into a retro-grade sized mountain.
Hurricane Irene, however, is no molehill. In fact, its estimated damage totals over $10 billion! That’s a whole lotta cheddar for one storm, especially when you consider the amount of immeasurable damage it caused in its path. And being the hopeful romantic I am, I couldn’t help but be concerned how the hurricane’s havoc affected all the couples planning to take the plunge during its debut.
And affect the pre-nuptial plungers, it did.
According to theknot.com, there were over 6,031 wedding planned for August 26th through the 28th in areas affected by the invasion of Irene; several of which were located in pricey, upscale areas like Manhattan. (We’re talking $70,000+ wedding budgets here, people!) And with several venues closing down and wedding days being put on delay, there were a whole lot of bridal budgets being crushed by gail force winds… literally!
And while “rain on your parade” seemed to take on a whole new level of understanding, for one couple in particular, Brett and Erica Weiss, there was still cause for celebration. They decided not even a hurricane could stop their big day from taking place. CNN reports that this brave, see-the-glass-half-full duo decided to turn their frowns upside down when they transformed their rehearsal dinner into their wedding day! Dressed to the nines in a pressed tux and a well manicured dress and veil, Erica and Brett made the first steps to wedded bliss in front of the 100 family and friends still able to be in attendance, and the results were nothing short of a dream come true.
Even after natural disastrous damage and 36 hours of customer service calls and rescheduling threatened to dampen their day, the couple remained in high spirits. Erica was even reported saying, “if rain on your wedding day is good luck, then I think we’re starting off in a pretty good place.” (CNN.com)
Um, can you say gold star bride? Love it, love her and love the attitude!
After all, the potential for wedding day disaster is always going to be there… probably why our wedding coordinator just kept saying, “Even though things may go wrong, at the end of the day, you’ll still be married.” And isn’t that what’s most important? We’re ingrained to believe that a wedding day is supposed to be our happily ever after, but when potential disaster strikes (and I mean real disaster, not your aunt decided to get drunk and ‘be somebody’ on the mic), pre-nuptial couples are often times forced to make split decisions that will completely alter over a year’s worth of planning. I’m just glad to know that even during the most desperate of times, true love can still conquer all :)
Big kudos to Erica and Brett for braving the weather and making the best… you now have a new wedding fan in the Midwest who will be toasting to many, MANY years of happiness!
August 30, 2011
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