NYC Fashion Week Spotlight: Angel Rivera 2014 Couture Collection

Feminine and elegant. The gowns of Angel Rivera's 2014 collection remind me of princess perfection. 

April Showers, SPRING FLOWERS!

Although it seems like a far-fetched idea, Spring is right around the corner! With a new season comes a new wave of flowers ready to bloom. A way to keep flowers costs down is to use flowers that are in season. This limits the exportation of flowers which raises your decor price easily. It is good to remember that some flowers stay in bloom longer than others, stretching into a second season of flowers. Here are some of the favorites for the spring season:

Available in multiple colors, this flower is perfect for a day-time wedding.
Late March

Some think that viburnum is an accent for bouquets and arrangements, but the beauty of viburnum can hold its own in a bouquet, accented with green leaves and flowers.
Mid-April

The flower associated with romance, roses have a long blooming period.
Early-May

My favorite flower, a peony, is available in shades of pink, white, purple and more. They can be used as tight buds or open and full (even fuller than in the photo!)
Mid-May

Asiatic Lily's are commonly used in white or orange.
Mid-June

                                                             

10 Ways to Save on Your Wedding

1. Keep the guest list small - This is a way to keep costs down. Instead of inviting your parent's friend who you have only met once, keep the guest list to those who are close to you.
2. Consider non-peak dates and times - Saturday and Sunday evenings are peak dates and times for weddings You will be competing with other prides for vendors and venues. Choosing other days may also get you lower prices from your vendor because you are the only wedding that day.
3. Choosing your venue - Be creative with your venue choices. Locations outside of reception halls or venue halls can offer better deals. A Botanical garden, a friends gorgeous backyard or a Zoo may offer more affordable options.
4. Keep it together - Keeping a ceremony and reception in one venue is efficient and allows for easy travelling for guests.
5. Ceremony music - Look at local performing art schools with the possibility of hiring students to perform at the wedding. A string quartet or a piano player consisting of these talented students allows you to cut costs on the DJ and only use him for the reception.
6. Reception and cake - There are different choices that are equally wonderful for your reception. Have a lunch reception; limit your sit-down dinner to three courses; provide different stations of food favorites; have a dessert-only reception later at night. A cake can be more waste than a bride and groom anticipated. Choosing alternatives like a dessert bar or cupcakes will provide the same deliciousness that the guests will enjoy.
7. Decor choices - Flowers can be very expensive. To keep costs down, use flowers that are in-season for your wedding date. Use an abundance of candles instead of huge flower arrangements. Large Candelabras are a great elegant alternative to flowers.
8. Make it special - Have specialty drinks available for guests instead of an open bar. Creative names for the drinks that are personal to the bride and groom make the drink even more special.....and fun!
9. Photo and Video - The photographer and videographer capture the special moments throughout the day/night, but they do not have to stay the whole time. After the cutting of the cake, the dances and a bit of dancing, these vendors can leave. As the guests continue to dance, the images begin to become repetitive.
10. Hire a Wedding Coordinator!!! - Some think this is just an extra expense, but a wedding coordinator is a valuable  asset to your wedding planning process. With their vendor contacts, the coordinator is able to negotiate and get you the best price. They also help you stay on time, avoiding overtime charges from your vendors.

Top 5 Guest Book Alternatives

Guest Books are a keepsake for the Bride and Groom as a reminder of the family and friends that shared their special day with them. The guest book can sometimes get lost in the corner or pushed off by guests until "later". A popular trend is to eliminate the traditional guest book for more creative and personal alternatives. These are my top 5 guest book alternatives:

1. The Engagement Photo: Display engagement photos in a book, or one main picture on an easel, and allow guests to write their names and a quick message to the bride and groom.
   
2. Puzzle: The Puzzle Piece or Jenga Blocks are fun and quirky. Allow guests to write messages and set up the pieces after the honeymoon. Have fun reading the messages as you put the puzzle together, or take the Jenga tower apart!
   
3. Envelope Guest Book: I know I said alternatives to guest books, but this is very different from the traditional guest book. Guests write well wishes to the happy couple and insert it into an envelope on the page. The notes are private, only for the bride and groom to open and receive. 
   
4. Wish Tree: The wish tree allows guest to hang their well wishes for the bride and groom and their future, while creating a piece of art. Wish Trees are gorgeous decor pieces that continue to grow as guests add more wishes. A great way to preserve these wishes is to frame them. They make a gorgeous piece, that all of your guests helped to create for your home.
   
   
   
   
5. Fingerprint Tree: This is my favorite alternative. Guests press their fingerprints, in whatever color you choose, onto a tree template (or any other template like below), slowly creating the actual artwork. Guests can also initial their fingerprints.They can be customized with the names of the bride and the groom and the wedding date. Since no two fingerprints are the same, this will truly be a one-of-a-kind piece of art.
   

Pump Up The Music!

A crowded dance-floor, an energetic DJ and a party atmosphere is the perfect scene that most brides and grooms aspire for. A great playlist is the first step to ensuring that this dream becomes reality (plus a great DJ). I prefer a blend of hits from different eras, providing the perfect energy and plenty of favorites that everyone will enjoy. I personally love to mix classics with current Top 40 Hits, but today I will focus on the past ten years to avoid my own Top 100 list. Here are some hits from the past decade that will get your guests on (and keep them on) the dance-floor!

I Gotta Feeling - Black Eyed Peas

Party Rock Anthem - LMFAO

Dynamite - Taio Cruz

Give Me Everything (Tonight) - Pitbull feat. AfroJack, Ne-Yo and Nayer

Tik Tok - Ke$ha

Just Dance- Lady Gaga feat. Colby O'Donis

Applause - Lady Gaga

Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO

California Girls - Katy Perry feat. Snoop Dogg

On the Floor - Jennifer Lopez feat. Pitbull

I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) - Pitbull

Shots - LMFAO feat. Lil John

Raise Your Glass - Pink

Teach Me How To Dougie - California Swag District

One More Time - Daft Punk

Sexy Back - Justin Timberlake feat. Timbaland

In the Ayer - Flo Rida feat. Will.I.Am

Single Ladies - Beyonce (Perfect to get the ladies up for the bouquet toss)

Hey Baby - Pitbull feat. T-Pain

Wake Me Up - Avicii

Blurred Lines - Robin Thicke feat. Pharell and T.I

Work B**ch - Britney Spears

Timber - Pitbull feat. Ke$ha

Can't Hold Us - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Thrift Shop - Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

Do What You Want - Lady Gaga feat. R. Kelly

Royals - Lorde

"I Do" Spotlight: Nimble Well

A Chicago based company, Nimble Well provides vintage china, cake stands and decor items for any event. The fine china and available items are perfect for a birthday party, engagement brunch, or a wedding celebration. Whether you want elegance, or something unusual, mixing vintage pieces with your decor makes your overall event unique. Nimble Well has a bounty of cake stands! Over 100 different types in their inventory as well as tiered stands. I would love for one of my brides to consider using Nimble Well to decorate their dessert bar. There is plenty to explore on their site, but here are some pictures to give you a peek:

Adult Twists On Childhood Favorites

Although we are adults, we still appreciate those treats we loved as kids. Those Hostess treats, and Little Debbie are brands that resonate with everyone, and their treats are childhood favorites. Why not take Childhood treats that everyone loves and give them an adult twist for your wedding? Your guests will enjoy age appropriate twists on their nostalgic favorites. Who wouldn't be happy with these delicious ideas?

Cotton Candy Martinis are the perfect whimsical signature drink. This is the perfect amount of sweet! Have fun with different flavors. Green Apple, Watermelon, Pomegranate, or Grape! Get creative and give your guests a treat at cocktail hour: Dessert before dinner!

What is better for cooling you down in the spring/summer than a Popsicle! An adult twist to these summer-time favorites is a simple upgrade in flavors. Create a Margarita, Pina Colada, and/or Daiquiri  Popsicle. Adding them to a glass of Prosecco adds some elegance to the cocktail treat, and the melted Popsicle will flavor the drink. 

Cake Pops have become very popular over the past few years, and have even replaced the cake sometimes! Make them even more unique by adding some adult flavor. Baileys and Chocolate, Patron and Key Lime Pie or Brandy and Banana Foster Cake are just a few delicious ideas. 

Who doesn't love a good milkshake? A spiked milkshake is a great late night surprise to cool your guests after a night of dancing.

Wedding Welcome Bags

A wedding is a time for family and friends to come together and celebrate the bride and groom. Sometimes the wedding occurs right in your "backyard" and other times travelling is required. Whether it is a few out-of-town guests, or you are having a destination wedding, the celebration should begin as soon as the guests check-in to their hotel. A great way to show your appreciation and help them start the fun, welcome bags are a personal care-package from the bride and groom. Here are some tips for making the perfect welcome bag:

1. Keep in mind that the welcome bag (or container) can be something that guests will want to re-use over the length of the wedding festivities, or longer. If it is not re-usable, don't worry! The bag is nice, but what is inside is a real treat.

2. Don't be afraid to personalize! Have a thank-you note written on a canvas bag, or a sticker with the bride and groom's initials to seal the welcome packages. Color, design and material choices add the personal touch that represent the bride and the groom and their wedding. If you are in Paris or a midnight in Paris theme, incorporate a picture of the Eiffel Tower, or tags with "Bonjour" on each bag. Little touches are what make the guests feel the thought you put into their bag.

3. Always put a bottle of water, or two, in your welcome bag. We know how expensive buying water at a hotel can be! You can personalize the bottles with stickers as well, adding your wedding colors into the bag. Don't be afraid to venture outside water. In Seattle? Add a can of Starbucks coffee to the bag.

4. Snacks and treats are a must-have on any trip! You can give the tourists a taste of the area with snacks representative of the local flavor. A mixture of sweet and savory can never go wrong. If you are in my city, New York, give guests a black & white cookie, bagel crisps, a bag of nuts and an apple; A perfect welcome to the Empire State. If you want to add something other than snacks, a MetroCard and a map encourages guests to explore the city on their own.

5. Last, but not least, a schedule of events is a great way to ensure your guests are on time. A kindly reminder, especially if the wedding is not near the hotel, is always helpful.

You can have the bags waiting for the guests in their guest room or they can be given to guests by your coordinator at your very own welcome desk. Be sure to discuss how each guests will receive their welcome gift in advance. Your guests will be surprised and ready to celebrate!

How To Incorporate Social Media Into Your Wedding: Very Easy Tips!

It is amazing how technology is a natural part of our lives today in comparison to 10 years ago. Social media websites such as Twitter and Instagram and phones like the iPhone and Android makes connecting with friends and family easy.

Professional photos of your wedding ceremony is a must have in my opinion, but some of the best pictures a bride and groom may like are the amateur pictures taken by their friends and family that show the moments that the photographer may not have seen. These candid moments are reflective of the people you love and invited to share your special day.

It only takes a few steps to implement the use of social media into your wedding:

1. First, download Twitter and/or Instagram. These applications are free to download with your smartphone, but use pre-existing accounts for less hassle. Instagram allows you to take photos, add cool effects and share with friends. It is like a Facebook, but with pictures only.

2. Next, you and your significant other should determine a wedding hastag. This helps to filter pictures on Instagram just as it filters tweets on Twitter.

3. You must then decide where you want to filter all of your pictures. Dropbox and Flickr accounts are two of my favorites. They are easy to access and have large storage availability.

4. Next, you connect your social media outlet to your storage area with the use of your "recipe" through ifttt.com. Create an account on ifttt.com which means IF THIS, THEN THAT. This account will create a chain reaction that allows you to establish that IF THIS hastag is used, THEN THAT photo is automatically downloaded into your Dropbox/Flickr account.

5. Last, but not least, SHARE your plan with guests. There are many creative ways to share your plan with your guests. Whether during your engagement announcement or on the wedding day. Signs on the bar, notes on the table during the reception, boards displaying the hastag, or the information written on personalized napkins are creative ways to share the information. You can also include the information on your wedding website.

You will see the wedding journey from many perspectives, not just the day of, but leading up to the wedding day. The photos may be blurry, but they will show the laughter and love that day between family, old friends and new friends. This is a great way to incorporate the guests into your wedding day, letting them get involved. You will have a great laugh and even more smiles when you look at these photos with your new husband/wife.

Open-Bar versus Consumption Bar

Bride and Grooms are faced with a lot of decisions during their planning, but an unexpected decision couples encounter is deciding between a Consumption Bar or Package Bar. 

Choosing a Consumption Bar, you are charged a confirmed price per each drink that is consumed during your event.  You only pay for what you and your guests actually drink.

Choosing a Package Bar, you are commonly given a price based on the amount of guests for your event and the total amount of hours your event will be. This price is charged regardless of the amount consumed during the night.

Here are a few questions to ask yourself when contemplating which bar suits you:

1. How comfortable are you with not knowing your bill until the end of the night? Consumption bars are not totaled until the end of the event. 
2. What is your guest list like? Are there more young adults? Children? Does your family like to party? If you have a group that like to drink, a flat rate would be best to avoid any surprise costs at the end of the night.
3. How long is your event? Guests will typically consume on average 1-2 drinks an hour. You can consider closing the bar at a certain time of the night (i.e for dinner, instead serving wine and/or champagne for toasts).

Another option for controlling costs, is to request a limited selection for the bar. You can choose beer, wine and a signature cocktail for the night, instead of a full bar of top shelf liquor. 

Radiant Orchid - The Color of 2014

As we move on from 2013 and luxurious emerald, 2014 introduces a new "color of the year" : Radiant Orchid. A rich purple color that is vibrant and alluring, Radiant Orchid is complimented by shades of purple, pinks, cream, gold and silver. The color of royalty, just a small amount of Radiant Orchid incorporated into your wedding day will stand out in a good way! You can incorporate the color within the wardrobe, the decor, the food, or use the color as the base of the invitations, menus and programs. Look out for some creative use of this color in events during 2014.

A teardrop bouquet of orchids is eye-catching against a wedding dress.

Shades of pink with Radiant Orchid.

Lighting in Radiant Orchid adds a soft glow to a reception.

Make each arrangement a different color and a different flower for a striking constrast.