Fonthill Wedding of Tanya and John April 26, 2008

The season is off and running!

Thanks to Vantage Pictures, photographers Jonathan McBride, and his wife Sarah.

http://vantagepictures.typepad.com

Check out their blog!

A Very Gatsby Wedding

There wasn’t a more fabulous time than the roaring twenties. And there wasn’t a better book to capture what it would be like to be a 20’s socialite than The Great Gatsby. Take away the homicide, tragedy, prohibition, and you get a series of evenings filled with grandeur, lavishness, culinary splendor, lively guests, dancing, music, and libations in abundance. Hmm, doesn’t that sound a lot like a wedding reception? The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald, is a favorite among us Y-Gens, and many are choosing to use the style of the 20's for their weddings. You could really get into it and do a theme wedding (complete with flapper dresses, character roles, and the works), but if not, just keep things light, fresh, fun, and fabulous and you're well on your way to a 20's event. Here are some ways to have a Gatsby inspired wedding reception:

• Keep your overall style light, avoiding formality and stuffiness.
  


• Use flowers popular in the 20’s: Gladiolus, mums, lilies, and gardenias







Keep things colorful and fresh: Use fruit such as oranges and limes as decorations and centerpieces at buffet tables.

Adopt the style of the 20’s with a modern twist: Bride, wear something sleek, like a slipdress, to accentuate a simple silhouette characteristic of the 20’s, but embrace details such as lace, embroidery, anything to add a bit of flare. Wear period jewelry, as well. Groom: Wear an ivory suit, with a colored tie (peach was a trendy color in the twenties).



Have jazz music playing, and swing for dancing (You can also buy the soundtrack to The Great Gatsby and listen to it for inspiration)



Use a black and white checkered dance floor

• Rent these movies for inspiration:
  Oscar (with sly stallone)
  Bullets over Broadway
  The Great Gatsby (Obviously)
  
  

I love the idea of a Gatsby inspired wedding. There are scads of resources on the internet, too. I think the romance of the 20’s comes from the knowledge that, even though things appeared to be fabulous, fun and fancy free, it was about to take a turn for the worst (think October 1929). At first thought, the roaring twenties doesn’t seem like a good metaphor for a wedding. But life having its ups and downs, its triumphs and trenches, is inevitable, and when you are at a party, in the company of family, good friend, and marvelous people, well that, like love, is timeless.

Most resources found from:

http://www.minnesotamonthly.com/media/Minnesota-Monthly/Guides-Resources/The-Wedding-Planner-Spring-2007/Creating-a-Great-Gatsby-Wedding/

Fairy Tale Fabulous

We may have been small children (or prenatal) during princess Di’s wedding to prince charles, but as children of the 80’s, we grew up with, not Pixar, but the fairy tale. And what other wedding was more of a fairy tale than hers? A kindergarten teacher finding her prince charming (at least, it seemed that way at the time) couldn’t get any more like a bedtime stoy, and her wedding dress was the perfect princess dress:

”Diana's wedding dress was a puff ball meringue wedding dress, with huge puffed sleeves and a frilly neckline. The dress was made of silk taffeta, decorated with lace, hand embroidery, sequins, and 10,000 pearls. It was designed by Elizabeth and David Emanuel, and had a 25-foot train.” ( http://womenshistory.about.com/od/diana/a/diana_wedding.htm )

Sounds pretty 80’s, right? Puff sleeves were my favorite style of dress as a kid (yeah, that with a side ponytail and some jellies – very regal indeed). I do like the element of tradition that comes with sleeves on a wedding dress, but I’m pretty sure I could only get away with puffy ones if I were actually marrying royalty (who wants to put a bet on whether Harry will accept my offer?). Puffy sleeves aside, Diana’s dress has every classic wedding gown attribute that embodies a gown fit for a royal fairy tale wedding (sleeves, a veil, a –very – long train, the puffy skirt, a frilly neckline). Let's be honest. No normal person could pull off that dress. But you don't have to embrace all of these things to achieve the look. If you’re a romantic and want a bit of bravura in your gown, I found some Carolina Hereira dresses that exude a more modern fairy tale appeal. This dress in particular:

Carries the allure of the veil, the femininity of some ruffle on the neckline - without making the bride look like she belongs in a Shakespearean play – and the grandeur and enchantment of a full skirt. The overall look? Fabulous.

I like the lace sleeves on this dress, as well. It keeps the look subtle, yet still traditional. If you don't like sleeves and want some grandeur, a dress with some volume to the skirt and a small train might suit you:

Dresses property of Eden Bridals: http://www.edenbridals.com

"To fake or not to fake" or "Because Pam Anderson Did It"

No, I’m not talking about fake, well, you know. It turns out Pam Anderson is famous for faking something else: her wedding cake. Wedding cakes are a time honored tradition, but even a small one can cost a pretty penny. With that said, depending on how important this tradition is to you, should you save money by using a fake wedding cake accompanied with a sheet cake for the guests? Most bakeries offer rental wedding cakes, with an opening to insert a piece of real cake for the cake cutting.

Although fake cakes have been around for awhile, renting them is fairly novel. Brides to be have said they will pay half as much to rent a fake cake than to buy a real one. Three tiered wedding cakes cost about $100 to rent, plus up to $100 more for a custom design.

For DIY brides, you can make a fake cake out of Styrofoam from the craft store (Wilton makes Styrofoam cakes of different shapes and sizes, and the green Styrofoam is easily shapeable) and PermaIce (artificial icing). It’s pretty easy and can be fun to do. Best of all, if you make a mistake, just throw it out and start again.

But is it worth it? I guess that’s just a judgment call. I personally like the idea of having a real wedding cake, especially because I like the idea of pearls and flowers being edible (the ones made out of sugar, I mean). And is it really cost efficient? Maureen Rogers, at http://pinkslipblog.blogspot.com/2007/07/this-takes-wedding-cake.html did the math, and for one company, renting a fake cake with a 100 slice sheet to accompany it only saves about $45 dollars. So should you fake it? I would opt for the real thing, especially because I’m only getting married (hopefully) one time, and a couple hundred dollars is not so bad for such an important occasion, considering what I’ve splurged on in the past: 120 dollars when I was 14 on ‘N Sync concert tickets, 200 dollars a couple months ago on a pair of jeans that ripped already, and like 70 dollars at CVS last week when I only went in for toothpaste (why does that always happen?). And if the tradition is not important to you, then don’t get a cake at all. Do not conform to the matrimonial peer pressures! But for me, this looks too good to fake:


Don't you think this would taste better than styrofoam or cardboard?
(wedding cake property of Annie B's confections, find more cakes like this at http://www.anniebs.com/ )

Fit 2008 Trends to Your Style

Let’s face it. If you’re female, you probably have some sort of interest in fashion. Do you follow trends religiously? Yeah, me neither. But to be truly in touch with your own inner fashionsta, you can find a balance between style and trend. Style is about personal expression and being creative, rather than trying to fit a mold. Trends, while they can make you feel like part of a school of fish, following the same path as everyone else, can be viewed as inspiration, rather than instructions, on style. Here are some ways to adapt some of the 2008 wedding trends to your own style and wedding vision.

Yellow was all over the Spring 2008 runways. If you’re feeling bold, go for bridesmaid dresses in bright yellow. If you’re looking for subtlety, go for yellow trim such as yellow ribbons around the waist, or yellow daisies in the hair. Pairing yellow and chocolate brown is great for a romantic evening wedding.



Silver and jewel tones for a wedding are trendy, as well as romantic. Jewel tones are in style, such as royal purple, green, and shocking pink, for sashes, ribbons, flowers, and even makeup. Use large rhinestone accents on tables, or small jewels in hair to give a royal energy to the reception.




If you like the idea of jewels, but want more of an authentic, “green” feel to your wedding, or if you’re unique or into new age, go for natural stones or crystals on tables, such as rose quartz, amethyst and amazonite, which you can find at new age stores.

http://weddings.about.com/od/bridesandgrooms/tp/2008-Wedding-Trends.htm
http://www.brides.com/

Go Tropical

Do you like the idea of getting married at the beach, but not the idea of a plain and simple wedding? Sure, the very concept of the beach is minimalistic: minimal clothing, accessories, makeup and, well, you know, minimal clothing. But you can still have a luxurious wedding at any beach by embracing a tropical theme. You don’t even have to go to Maui. If you plan to get married on a beach, take advantage of the sultry ambiance and add as much color as you can. Chair sashes in rich tropical colors like salmon, royal blue, magenta, lime green, sunny yellow, bright orange, embellished with orchids, roses and hibiscus add some lavishness to the ceremony. Add some extra flavor by using tropical fruit as decoration, such as mangoes, pineapples, watermelon, and bananas. And don’t forget to make the most of the natural beauty you can find only at the beach: seashells. Pink conch shells look nice placed at the end of each row of chairs. Glittering the sand with smaller shells is also nice. Just make sure the guests are wearing shoes.
(Visit http://www.weddingthemes.net/wedding_themes_island_style.htm for images)

Add a twist to tradition:

Rather than candle unity, incorporate sand unity into your ceremony. The bride and groom each hold a vial and fill it with sand from the beach. Then, simultaneously, they pour their sand into a larger vial or bottle, symbolizing their lives merged and unified. You can find an ornamental bottle, or decorate one yourself. Keep the bottle of sand as a keepsake and constant reminder of your vows.
(This idea from http://www.alohafriendsluau.com/Hawaii_wedding.html )

If you can't make it to a beach,utilizing a tropical decorative theme can make a backyard or outdoor wedding appear and feel exotic.

"The Green Party"

With all that goes into a wedding, it’s easy to forget about the amount of our earth’s resources that go into making your big day extravagant and memorable.

Well, good news. “Green” weddings have become mainstream! There now exist scads of websites, vendors and companies who dedicate themselves to promoting eco-friendly nuptials.

Here are three ways to start your life together on a positive, peaceful and harmonious note:

Pre-Engagement: Avoid “blood diamonds” by buying “conflict free” engagement rings. This is so important. Many diamonds are mined in war zones and the profits fund conflicts and genocides. Start your engagement on a peaceful note. Here are some alternatives, thanks to Sierra Club(1):

• Go vintage. Family heirlooms and antiques have substance and history to them, which hold a romantic appeal. Gold can even be melted down and reshaped.



• Buy lab created diamonds. GreenKarat’s diamonds are set in recycled gold, too, like this ring called the Gatsby Redux:
  

• Research diamonds mined in peaceful areas, like Canada and Australia.
  


• Check out Amnesty International’s Buyer’s Guide to find out questions to ask jewelers to make sure your diamonds are conflict-free under the Kimberley Process (an ongoing effort to reform diamond mining in Africa).
  

Pre-Wedding: Use recycled paper for invitations, or paper made from an alternative fiber like hemp or bamboo.

According to Ariel Dekovic, coauthor of 365 Ways to Save the Earth, "Every ton of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 7,000 gallons of water, the energy equivalent of 380 gallons of oil, and keeps almost 60 pounds of pollutants out of the atmosphere." Go to Womancraft.net for recycled invitation paper. Also, rather than use a lot of paper for inserts, include a website with your wedding information. This is more useful, as it can be updated and can’t get misplaced (2)


Post Wedding: Donate your flowers to a retirement home.

Flowers are beautiful and healing. Studies also show that taking care of plants and flowers give senior citizens a feeling of control in their lives, improving its quality and brightening their day. Use potted plants, and then donate them (2).

1. http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_steps_to_a_g.html


2. Information found at http://www.theknot.com/

Let Them Eat Cake!

I know, what a horrible reference for a title. Marie Antoinette must have been quite the Bridezilla!

Anyway.

What kind of wedding appeals to you? Are you the type who wants to get married on the beach in a sundress and a flower in your hair, with your closest friends to witness? Or do you want a wedding fit for royalty? Maybe you’re pretty traditional, but you want a little extra something to keep your day memorable. Or do you recoil from convention and want a wedding that’s fun, bold, and with a sense of humor? Whatever your desires, keep tuning in here for some great ideas for inspiration to personalize your wedding.

Today I spent some time searching for wedding cakes. I looked for the unique, the irreverent, the simple, and the fabulous. These are my favorites:

If you like:

Simple, Subtle, and Beautiful

This one is simple but beautiful, and looks like something you could duplicate cost efficiently. You could easily find stands like this, or even decorate the stand with ribbons or flowers rather than on the cake. It’s perfect for an elegant wedding (1).


Fabulous and Luxurious

With intricate designs and colors of royalty, this cake is fit for a queen, or someone who wants to be treated as such on her special day(2).

Traditional with a twist

Want a traditional wedding with a unique twist? Try a design like this, inspired by a Paisley print Indian shawl. It’s edgy, but beautiful and with a hint of culture(3).


Unconventional and Fun
I couldn't pick just one of these.


This is absolutely awesome! It's a lego cake for the kid in all of us. If you’re a goofball, love kids, or are unique and unconventional, this is a great idea. Of course, it’s not edible. But I love cookies and brownies and other types of sweets, so I would be happy with a sweets table and a cool Lego cake to look at(4)!

This one is my favorite! For all of us who grew up obsessing over those green pipes and “one up’s” and question mark boxes always filled with something special, what better way to celebrate your special day than with some childhood nostalgia? May every Princess Toadstool find her Mario(5)! Here’s another one:

I love the bride and groom in a pipe, ready to travel through sewers together for life(6)!

This…is weird. But it is a meatcake! If your fiancé is into being a “manly man”, or at least wants to joke about it, this is easy to make and hilarious! It’s actually a meatloaf cake, with mashed potato frosting. Take a look here for the full story:

http://www.blackwidowbakery.com/demo/meatcake/

Image sources:

1. http://www.affordablewedding.net/Wedding_Cakes.html
2. http://www.cakes-unique.com/
3. http://www.brides.com/brides/cakes
4. http://www.ericharshbarger.org/lego/wedding_cake.html
5. http://haha.nu/misc/mario-princess-peach-wedding-cake/
6. http://www.flickr.com/photos/20372079@N08/1976562617/
7. http://www.blackwidowbakery.com/demo/meatcake/

Calling all "Y-Gen's"!

Oh yes, that's what we're called. We're the Y-gens, the millenials, or "babies of the eighties", a phrase I have borrowed from Andrew McMahon of the band Something Corporate. We're technologically savvy. We’re comfortable with e-mail attachments rather than fax machines. We're still paying off loans while trying to save money for the future, but we have been brought up to appreciate quality. We value tradition, but let's not forget, experiencing the 80's and early 90's during our formative years have left us creative, quirky, fun, and charismatic.

And now, we've gotten a start on our careers, and for some of us, are ready to become homeowners, start families, but most importantly (at least in terms of this blog), get married!

So what are we looking for?

We’re internet researchers, and can find anything with a keyword and some clicks, but will want someone experienced to tell us what it all means. We were the first generation to grow up with numerous extra-curriculars and athletic commitments, so we are used to budgeting our time and being organized, but we won’t cancel our commitments or activities. Rather, we expect agents and planners to be savvy with accommodating our busy schedules. Although we are in touch with the latest styles and trends, we feel the most comfortable with an experienced planner, because we trust that they will keep things traditional and running smoothly. But we want them to be in touch with our unique and fresh visions.

With these things said, I’ll be posting things I find that are classy and traditional, but maybe have a unique flair or a twist to really personalize and stylize your wedding. I'll also keep an eye out for the fabulous and luxurious, finding ways to make your wedding fit for royalty or the red carpet (Which, let's face it, is America's form of royalty anyway). Or maybe you're the romantic type, don't want all the fuss, and are looking for something understated, subtle and beautiful. And of course, there is always the wacky, the fun, the unconventional. We may want tradition, but let’s face it: we were kids of the 80’s, and we know how to have some fun, and there’s nothing wrong with letting a little personality shine through on our wedding day!

Which kind of style speaks to you for your wedding?

• Unconventional and Fun
• Simple, Subtle and Beautiful
• Fabulous and Luxurious
• Traditional with a Twist

Stay wired for inspiration!

"The Honeymooners"

Honeymoon Registries

It’s time to register for gifts! Don’t have a craze for crystal? Lack passion for pottery barn? Or maybe you and your fiancé have already been living together for years in a fully furnished home. Let’s face it. In this day and age, that seems to be the norm. So why not register for some memories? Scads of travel businesses now offer honeymoon registrations. The perks?

• After shelling out on your wedding, how nice to de-stress on an island knowing you still have some money in your bank account.
• Friends will appreciate it. It’s simple and easy to contribute to the registry and they’ll know they are giving you something you’ll appreciate more than a material possession.
• You can add extras into your trip that you wouldn’t have been able to. Upgrade your honeymoon to your dream vacation!

I love this idea. Check out www.honeymoonwishes.com to see samples of registries ranging from Las Vegas and Mexico to Tahiti, Europe and even Fiji. Or just Google “honeymoon registries”, and voila! You have a million options