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

Fonthill Castle and Estate featured

Fonthill Castle and Estate featured in Bucks County Woman Magazine as one of the best venues for wedding receptions in Bucks County!

Candy Bar Dessert Buffet

Carly & Alex's wedding reception at Fonthill Castle Estate featured a terriffic Candy Bar - it was a huge hit!