Guest Blogger: Erin Szeto Chan, bridalguide.com Intern

Bag Ladies

Ever wonder why so many travel bags are so . . . boring? Unable to find chic travel totes that suited their styles, friends Candice Lapin and Erica Vilardi decided to make their own and launch Lapin Vilardi (lapinvilardi.com), a line of fun, feminine travel carryalls and accessories perfect for honeymoon- or destination wedding-bound brides.

The fully lined, machine-washable bags are made out of smooth satin charmeuse, brushed-cotton twill and other high-quality materials and are available in several sizes for toiletries, jewelry, shoes, lingerie, garments and other on-the-go essentials. They're also much prettier than those plastic bags in your hotel closet and come in a range of fashionable designs, from bright orange florals to cute green and blue stripes. Need a present for bridesmaids? The Madison Gift Set includes three sacks for shoes, lingerie and laundry with charming black-and-white polka dot exteriors, a coordinating lavender-filled sachet (to keep odors at bay) and a gift box.

Posted by Erin at 9:58 a.m.

Beautiful Bouquets & Tasty Treats

I had a real treat the other day...literally, a delicious 4-course treat set in a lush environment of gorgeous blooms and one-of-a-kind home decor finds. Where am I, you ask? The Plaza? A fancy smancy party overlooking Central Park? No! I was being wined and dined by Chef Pierrot in the 3-story studio he shares with the dynamic duo of Bardin Palomo that transforms affairs with their floral creations and damn good taste. I also like to refer to them as the two Roberts.

R & R graciously gave me a tour of their floral workspace and amazing hand-picked-from-all-over-the-world home decor showroom. Granted, they weren't busy at all. They were only prepping for an event for 1,000 peeps. Easy breezy, according to them! I've hosted parties for 20 and was running around like a chicken. Maybe that's why I write and don't do events. BTW...they did the beautiful bouquet for our March/April budget issue for the cover. It's out January 13. You have to wait to see, but really, it's SO worth the wait. Really.

After I oohed and awed over their floral arrangements, we had delightful banter while we dined on delish dishes created by Chef Pierrot; brides, babies, politics, airplanes-we ran the gamut. As a mom, I love adult conversation. But let's get back to the food...yum! Big truth: I am not a seafood-loving kind of girl but I seriously heart Chef P's salmon app and herb-crusted halibut entree. The herbs and sauces were just right and the presentation was gorgeous. It's so my mission to make them love ME so they will cook all my meals.

These are two companies that every bride should check out. Even if you're not in NYC, they are great for inspiration and set a standard that you should seek in your vendors. And if you are getting married in NYC, then you're a lucky girl to have them at your disposal. BP also graciously sent me the most beautiful bouquet after we met and unfortunately, my camera was dead and I couldn't show you. But, take my word: A-maz-ing!

Check out chefpierrot.com and bardinpalomo.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 3:14 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Erin Szeto Chan, bridalguide.com Intern

Video Star

I love it when couples play slideshows at their wedding. It adds such a nice personal touch, and it's fun to see photos of the bride and groom throughout the years. I recently attended a wedding where the groom put together two slideshows and was blown away by the quality and snazzy effects.

It turns out he used Animoto (animoto.com), a Web application that automatically generates professionally produced videos from your own pictures and music. Users simply upload their images, video clips and the song they want their video set to. Animoto then uses the same sophisticated production techniques used in television and film to create sleek, MTV-style videos with cool effects like fade in/fade out, pans and zooms and eye-catching photo transitions timed to the music. If you're not happy with the results, you can add or delete images, change the soundtrack or click on “One Click Remix” to generate an alternate version.

Ready for your video-producing debut? You can create 30-second videos for free (in as little as three minutes) or full-length ones for just $3. Completed videos can be emailed, downloaded to your computer or iPhone and even embedded on Web sites like Facebook, MySpace and YouTube.

Posted by Erin at 10:12 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Erin Szeto Chan, bridalguide.com Intern

Let Them Eat Cake

Now your guests can have their cake and eat it, too. in mini chocolate form! Founded by a former celebrity stylist, The Little Candy Cake Company handcrafts miniature wedding cake-shaped chocolate favors that are as adorable as they are delicious. The elegant little treats are available in solid milk or white chocolate, and founder/chief cake designer Lucinda Sierra can custom-decorate them with beautiful hand-sculpted fondant flowers, seashells, fruit, ribbons and anything else you can envision in your personal wedding colors. Sweet!

Prices start from $5.50 apiece for a two-inch candy cake to $14.50 for a four-inch cake, and are determined by how elaborate the design is. Shipping is available throughout the United States, and you can find out more by calling (631) 470-9367 or visiting thelittlecandycake.com.

Posted by Erin at 12:54 p.m.

Pumpkin Patch

September's halfway over, the weather's becoming cooler (at least here in the Northeast), and in just five short days it will officially be fall. If you're planning an autumn wedding, then this is the perfect time to find great decorative details for the big day-and nothing says fall like pumpkins. This Glass Pumpkin Place Card Holder makes the perfect addition to your wedding tables. Each one comes with raffia and a blank place card. Once the wedding's over, guests can take it home and use it as a paperweight or add it to their Thanksgiving table decor.

For more fall favors, visit FavorsbyLisa.com.

Posted by Lori Francisco, bridalguide.com Managing Editor, at 1:28 p.m.

Get a Picture-Perfect Bridal Glow

Living in New York, it's hard not to feel a little frumpy sometimes. I mean, there are some gorgeous women (and men, for that matter). They're perpetually sun-kissed, have flawless skin and a runway-model body. Of course, they're sporting Prada and Manolo's...whereas I'm sporting Molly on my hip and Jack's leash in my right hand. The problem is, I have gotten lazy. You know how it is: You work all day, spend your evenings and weekends scouting locations, tasting cakes, putting together favors, fighting with mom or the mom-in-law about the guest list...it's exhausting! Plus, you still have to find time to shower, shop, make dinner and sleep. Same for me, except swap the wedding planning for a demanding toddler. My biggest issue has always been my skin (and this is where I have SO dropped the ball...as in not washing my face every night) so I decided to start there and enlist the help of an NYC skin guru...a.k.a. Dr. Galitzin.

Dr. Galitzin specializes in non-surgical treatments for aging skin. Hmm...I'm 31...I think I fit in that category. So, I ducked out a tad early and headed uptown to see him. I was nervous, but he quickly calmed my nerves. We discussed my history and skin concerns, which for me are dryness and uneven skin tone-nothing a bride should have on her wedding day. The entire time we're talking, I'm looking at this huge camera mounted on his desk. Of course, I ended up posing for it; straight, to the left and to the right...I knew it! We then looked at my face on his computer. Can you say embarrassing?! But Dr. G explained that these photographs showed what the naked eye couldn't see and allowed him to determine the best treatment for me. They also gave us a marker to see how successful my treatments would be in the future.

Okay, so a little embarrassment is worth it! One peel and five days later, my skin is glowing! So loving Dr. G! He also introduced me to a great line of skin care products that are amazing from PCA SKIN:

From left: pHaze 42 Anti-Redness Serum, pHaze 17 ReBalance Moisturizer,
Perfecting Face & Body Hydrator SPF 30.

Of course, I had all you brides-to-be on my mind, so I asked the good doctor his top five tips for wedding day beauty. Here's his advice:

1. Start early. Don't wait to the last minute. Best results occur over time. See your skin care specialist. Get on a program and stick with it!
2. For redness, dark spots and broken blood vessels consider IPL treatments for quick results.
3. If you're thinking about botox, think early. Botox requires time to work. Remember, no last-minute surprises.
4. Avoid facials in the two weeks prior to the big day. Facials can result in purging or temporary breaks prior to that healthy glow.
5. On the big day DO NOT CHANGE your routine. A close friend or relative may offer a sure-fire way to improve your complexion. It may work, but today is not about experimentation.

This is your big day, so make sure you look your best. If you're in the NY area, I highly recommend visiting Dr. Galitzin, and if not, check out his website, skincare5thave.com. You'll be glad you did. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 5:16 p.m.

Stay in the Loop

Hey Ladies! I've discovered a great wedding planning and travel tool that you have to check out...GoWaza! Go what, you ask? No, GoWaza. Really. Not only does it book your travel, searching for the best possible deals, but you can also create a map with your destination, hotel, local restaurants and even nearby attractions and events. I did a test run, so now I'm a pro!

Here's how it works: You go to gowaza.com and sign up. It's free and all you have to enter is your name, email, password and ZIP code. Your full address is optional. Next, you can import your contacts from sites like Hotmail, Yahoo! or Gmail. Then you plug in your travel dates and destination, and they do the rest. I logged in a faux flight to Long Beach, CA, (fondly known as the LBC) from August 19-26. Not only did it find me a cheap flight and hotel, it also suggested restaurants nearby and told me that Green Day is playing at the Forum on August 25 (and that was only 1 of 94 events it suggested, including how many miles it was from my hotel). A new feature is that you can add any address to your personal map (beyond your initial destination), like your rehearsal dinner location or after-wedding brunch. You can email all your travel plans to friends and family, or they can sign up and access your plans through the site.

I can't think of a better way to keep your guests in the loop and give them access to local events and attractions-all in one place! You have enough to worry about already, so make life a little easier and check out GoWaza. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 10:52 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Lori Francisco, bridalguide.com Managing Editor

Snack Cakes as Wedding Cakes?

Over the weekend I was hanging out with my friend and her cousin, and the topic of an upcoming family wedding came up in our conversation. Apparently, the groom wanted a wedding cake made up of three different Little Debbie cakes. Personally, I'd probably want a tower of Ding Dongs, Suzzie Qs and Twinkies, but to each his own. The best part was when they told me how much the caterer was going to charge for this Tower of Little Debbie-a whopping $1,000! Seriously?!

Of course the two women were appalled and hoped his wish would not become a reality, but it had me thinking-has anyone else ever done this? So, I turned on the trusty computer and did a search. The man is not alone. Here's what I found:

A Snack Cake Wedding Cake guide: For those of you serious about making this cake a reality, this gives you some good tips and guidelines for putting one together.

A pretty great Little Debbie groom's cake:

How to Make a Little Debbie Groom's Cake: Instead of a wedding cake, this site offers directions on how to create your own Little Debbie groom's cake. You can see more of the base cake in this one and the pre-packaged cakes look more like decorations, but hey, if you wanted to be subtle about it, I guess this works.

The Little Debbie buffet cake: If you're not into creating anything fancy, you may just want to lay out the cakes on platters and let your guests pick what they want. This one's pretty basic, but I'd probably spruce up the presentation-add some big pretty blooms and make each tier a different snack cake. Vintage cake pedestals stacked on top of each other would be a nice touch as well.

Hostess' World of Wackiness:

So, what do you think? Would you incorporate your favorite snack cakes into your wedding-day menu? Don't worry; if the groom actually gets his wish, I've already asked my friend for pictures of the magnificent creation. If you have any pics of outrageous wedding cakes or ideas for your own crazy cake, send them to suggestions@bridalguide.com and we'll feature them here!

Posted by Lori at 4:19 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Ashley-Lynn Goldstein, bridalguide.com Intern

Roll the Dice

Are you looking for a unique favor that won't just sit and collect dust? I recently came across these adorable personalized dice at WhereBridesGo.com:

They're perfect for a wedding or bachelorette weekend in Vegas. In years to come, every time your guests play a dice game they'll be reminded of your wedding! Priced at $2.95 per pair, they come in a range of unique swirled colors and you can engrave a graphic or personalized message on them.

Posted by Ashley-Lynn at 12:01 p.m.

Cute Hair Accessories

I'm a girly-girl, especially when it comes to my hair. I've had a rainbow of colors and every haircut imaginable, from the bob to the Rachel to the long locks I'm sporting now. In fact, even Molly is already getting into my beauty closet. Since I'm loving the length right now, I love to play with hair accessories.

I was lucky enough to be invited to the trunk show of up-and-coming NYC-based designer, Rachel Piskin, and the launch of her company, Coquette. She does the most stylish headbands and hair clips, and even a gorgeous bridal collection. Molly helped me pick out a pink one with roses (see below) and I also bought a pretty piece with a purple velvet flower. There were so many to choose from; I can't believe I made out there with only two! Even Molly tried some on! In addition to her current collection, Rachel also offers to customize pieces for any occasion you can think of. Looking for that something blue to wear on your big day? Rachel can make it. Need personal gifts for your ‘maids that won't break your budget? Rachel can make one to suit each personality. Did I mention Rachel's not even 20 and makes them all by hand? Now, that's impressive.

Here are some fun ones to dress up your favorite blue jeans. Mine's the pretty pink one!

And here's a peek at some of her bridal pieces. I love that the veils are all removable and so chic.

You can find Coquette hair pieces at Bond 07 by Selima (212-677-8487) or Bio (212-334-3006) in NYC or at coquetteheadpieces.etsy.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 3:12 p.m.

Summer BBQ

With summer already here, it's time to think about backyard BBQs and easy entertaining. One of the saddest parts about living in New York City is that I don't have a backyard. I don't even have a balcony, unless the fire escape counts…somehow, it's just not the same. As you and your beau begin to compile your registry wish list, consider adding a backyard grill.

I attended an annual Char-Broil luncheon at Bryant Park Grill (a must-do for rooftop cocktails if you're ever in NY in the summer), and am always in awe of their new gas grills. For 2009, they introduced an affordable new model in their Char-Broil RED infrared gas grill collection. Infrared technology evenly distributes heat across the entire grilling surface, eliminating hot and cold spots and ensuring that dinner is delish. even if you're a grilling novice. No coals or fire to deal with!

There are 693 total sq. inches of cooking space and simple temperature settings on the panel for rotisserie, BBQ, grill, sear and clean. At $449, this is a great group gift (very common for people to pitch in on a pricier present, don't worry!) or something to purchase with any extra wedding gift dinero.

While we're on the subject of grilling, one of my favorite cookbooks is Char-broil's Everybody Grills! (Creative Owner, $24.95) by Barry “CB” Martin. It has over 200 grill recipes, ranging from appetizers and salads to main courses and tasty marinades.

It has mouth-watering pics of each recipe that can't help but inspire you to start cookin'. That's my thing with cookbooks: If there's no photograph, I won't buy it. I need to see the end result! Of course, this is a book for grilling outside, but I apply the recipes to my broiler or counter-top grill. I use it at least once a week. And now that Molly can eat solids, she eats the same dinner that we do. Barry “CB” Martin, by the way, also authors a gem of a blog called Sizzle on the Grill. It's full of useful tips and techniques, and has a wealth of recipes to try this summer. Check out charbroil.com for this and others. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 6:21 p.m.

Let There Be Light

A few weeks ago, I had the delightful opportunity to meet with the peeps from PartyLite candle company. They wanted to show me their new products and tell me about different programs they offer that might appeal to brides. Of course, that peaked my interest because I didn't know such things existed! Now, I've been using PartyLite candles for years but didn't realize the broad range of products they have to offer and how a bride can use them to create chic and unique centerpieces for her wedding.

They showcased a set of glass vases and votives (the “Naturally Modern Trio” that consists of 3 vases of varying heights with removable glass votive holders) and showed us an array of mix-and-match color palettes and décor that could easily and inexpensively dress up a table. Below are the amazing things they pulled together.

Here's one of the vases filled with walnuts and the votive inside. On the left is the votive that can be removed. Side note: Isn't the view from my office pretty?

This is a green color story. Shells are inside the vases and they've placed fresh herbs in the votive. So clever!

The blue story...In-season hydrangeas and different shades of blue make a bold statement. I love that they brought in a paint chip swipe to compare the different shades of blue. You can see in the background the herbs from the green scene that could easily be mixed in. Sweet, yet still sophisticated.

Coral is a huge color right now and this story is right on trend. Look how easy it is to mix different flowers/colors and use the vases and votives for different purposes. Yellow also happens to be my favorite color. Go figure being a Cali girl.

This is more formal than the other shots. The large vase with the white candle and black fleur di lis votives scream elegance. Here, they mixed in a modern gray and white striped fabric.

And here, purple is a complementary accent.

As my grams would say, here's the kicker: You can offset the cost of your centerpieces and earn rewards simply by hosting a PartyLite party. Invite the girls over, crack a bottle of bubbly and shop for fab candles, vases and votives. The bigger the party, the more you earn. In fact, if you sell $250 worth of products, you get your choice of merchandise for half-price. Savvy brides can recruit their mothers and future in-laws to host parties as well, and basically get their table décor for free. What a deal! An added bonus is that your PartyLite consultant will work with your existing décor and PartyLite products to transform any room you choose. I'm a sucker for home makeovers and would love to have expert guidance. Go to partylite.com for more details and to see the entire range of gorgeous home accents. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 3:16 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Ashley-Lynn Goldstein, bridalguide.com Intern

Bathroom Art

Want a unique way to always remember your big day or honeymoon? How about taking your favorite photo and making it into a shower curtain? PhotoShowerCurtain.com makes one-of-a-kind custom fabric curtains that are printed using a special process called sublimation. It fuses the image into the fabric, making it a permanent, extremely durable, high-detail image. The curtains are such good quality they won't change the texture of the fabric or crack over time. Pick any picture you want, or if you're really creative, make a collage of pictures. You can do whatever you want. you're the designer! Have a glass shower door? They also make window curtains!

Posted by Ashley-Lynn at 12:36 p.m.

Waxing Poetic

A dear friend's birthday is coming up and I've had such a hard time finding just the right gift. You know the kind of girl I'm talking about. super stylish, can pull off any look without a thought. If she weren't my best friend, I'd probably be green with envy!

Luckily, in my frantic search, I found a gem of a jewelry company called Waxing Poetic. As I browsed their site, I couldn't help but think. Kristin, who??? I want this for me! They have gorgeous vintage-looking monogrammed charms, bracelets, necklaces and rings that come in all different styles and finishes. The one shown below is brass set in sterling silver bezel. Of course, I chose A for Aimée to show you!

I also love their portrait and monogram charms. they remind me of trinkets I used to play with at my Gram's house. They have a little boy and girl, and also some animals and the entire alphabet. Absolutely adorable!

I would love to receive any of these if I were a bridesmaid, but you b-to-be's should really check out the Sisterhood Monikers collection. These sassy oval charms are PERFECT to pair with each of your maids' particular personality: Is one a Diva? Another think she's the Queen? There are 9 tags to choose from including Mrs. for you! My friends would probably give me Shorty! I couldn't possibly show you all their cool designs so check out waxingpoetic.net to see them all. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 11:17 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Melissa Gruenfeld, Bridal Guide Intern

Relaxing with Moen

Aimée and I recently attended an event hosted by Moen. They manufacture stylish bathroom and kitchen faucets and showerheads with the latest technology. It was their first-ever spa event. They had massage therapists, reflexologists and makeup artists. We got our makeup done, and indulged in some massages, while learning about Moen's latest technologies and products such as the IO Digital, which is a programmable shower companion that can be set to your preferred temperature and water pressure:

You can even program your shower to turn on at specific times! Moen also has some eco-friendly and sustainable products. Learn more about the IO Digital at moen.com/iodigital.

Here are some photos of us enjoying our spa services:

Custom faucets and showerheads are relaxing and functional items to add to your registry wish list. What better time than now!

Posted by Melissa at 11:08 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Melissa Gruenfeld, Bridal Guide Intern

Music to My Ears

A couple of weeks ago, Aimée and I attended a press event for Tivoli Audio at the swanky Palace Hotel in NYC. Tivoli is an Italian audio systems company that produces top-of-the-line radios and home audio products utilizing the latest technology and sleek designs. Their products have a retro look and are all finished with wood or lacquer. The textures are extremely smooth to the touch. you wouldn't even know that they're made of wood! Their products come in a variety of shapes, sizes and colors. An affordable option that I especially like was the SongBook. it's an AM/FM radio with an outlet for your iPod that's light enough to take anywhere I travel.

I can't even begin to detail their entire product line, so check out tivoliaudio.com to see the entire collection.

Posted by Melissa at 12:14 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Ashley-Lynn Goldstein, bridalguide.com Intern

DIY Wedding Invitiations

Finding that perfect invitation that doesn't break the bank is a big challenge for any bride-to-be. Office for Mac has a solution for anyone who is familiar with Microsoft Word and Macs! Using their step-by-step guide, it's a breeze to create your very own custom invitations!

I'll admit it, when I first heard about this program I wasn't that into it. I was worried for those brides who were new to the computer. However, after going through all the steps I realized just how easy it is!

The steps to create custom and cost-friendly save-the-dates, wedding invitations, place cards, wedding budget trackers and so much more can be found at artoffice.com.

These steps are written clearly and make it easy for any bride to create her dream invitations. This product is great because it will give you the ability to create your very own custom invitations and save money at the same time! Who said you can't have it all?

Posted by Ashley-Lynn at 10:26 a.m.

New to the Scene

Hi! My name is Melissa, and I am the new summer intern for home and weddings here at Bridal Guide. I am a rising senior in the Home Products Development program at The Fashion Institute of Technology. I am super excited about this internship because it combines my interests of event planning, interior design and home products!

I received my first degree in interior design, and decided to stay within the home, and study home products and furnishings from more of a business perspective. Therefore, upon graduating I will have a well-rounded, and diverse knowledge of all areas of the home industry, in design and business.

I look forward to sharing new and exciting trends and products with you, and hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Posted by Melissa at 3:21 p.m.

A Bunch of Thanks

Your devoted ‘maids have endured months of dress shopping, hours pouring over wedding mags with you, and maybe even a little touch of Bridezilla here and there. Don't get me wrong. they love you and are honored to be included in your special day, but they certainly deserve a big thanks!

The Baby Bunch is a company I've loved since I had Molly, and I'm happy to report that they have the most adorable bridesmaids gifts: Thanks a Bunch Kitchen and Garden Bucket Bunches! What is this, you ask? Well…

The Kitchen Bunch comes in a cute pail filled with a full-length apron, two dish cloths, two tea towels and a tote for the green-minded shopper. The cotton kitchen gear comes in powder blue with cocoa trim.

The Garden Bunch also arrives in a handy metal pail and is filled with cotton gardening gear in celery with pink accents; one half apron with a pocket to hold your tools, a pair of gardening gloves, a bandanna and a tote to hold the rest of your gear.

Both sets are folded into little “buds” to make a dazzling bouquet with a matching gift tag. Talk about making a statement! The Baby Bunch will ship directly to your girls or you can have them sent to your house to hand out personally. I can't think of a sweeter or easier way to say thank you. Visit babybunch.com for more info. And go ahead…sneak a peek at the adorable baby gifts. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 3:45 p.m.

Get Personal

What to give your best girls in the wedding party is always a dilemma. You want to show them your appreciation but still stay within your planned budget. A couple days ago, I received the new catalog for Rosanna tableware. If you're not familiar with her gorgeous wares, check out the March/April 09 issue. she's our featured designer.

Anyway, it reminded me that she designs these fab, elegant oversized porcelain mugs and petite plates with individual initials monogrammed in 18th century French script. I originally saw them at the Gift Show and was happy to have a reminder. I think they'd make adorable bridesmaid gifts or even favors if you were having a small wedding.

When Rosanna showed them to me, she had the clever idea to put a small plant or bouquet of flowers in them. How chic is that? Check out her other must-haves at rosannainc.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 10:57 a.m.

Wedding Day Survival Kit

The last thing a bride needs to worry about on her big day is a smudge of lipstick on her dress, a rip in her hem or the unexpected monthly arrival of Mother Nature. That's why I love the survival kits from Ms. & Mrs. There's one for the bride, groom, ‘maids, and even MOB's! They include things like static and stain remover, tampons, bandages, a mending kit and earring backs.

The Wedding Day survival kit contains 30 such must-haves and the Groom's has 26. my fave is the extra pair of black socks. These are great shower gifts or even something a bride should buy for herself. Check out msandmrs.com to see these and more. Now, your wedding day disasters are diverted! Cheers!

Guest Blogger: Danielle Mirizio, Bridal Guide Intern

Red Stains Go Away!

Attention wine drinkers. We have come across the best product ever for getting that nasty red wine stain off your teeth, lips and even your tongue! Wine Wipes, which contains a proprietary blend of stain-removing and teeth-protecting ingredients, cleans red wine off teeth and neutralizes your palate. Just run a Wine Wipe over your teeth and mouth! And trust me, it works wonders. I was amazed when I used one after sharing a bottle of wine with my boyfriend. no one could tell that I drank a few glasses of Pinot Noir. My teeth were sparkly white!

The online special comes with three compacts of Wine Wipes along with a purple velvet carrying case. Each compact of Wine Wipes comes with 20 orange blossom–flavored wipes and a mirror inside the lid for discreet, anywhere usage...and it's only $18 for all three. You couldn't ask for a better deal. Drinking wine will never be the same without my Wine Wipes.

Visit winewipes.com for more information.

Posted by Danielle at 1:31 p.m.

Shake It Up

What's better than a refreshing cocktail in the afternoon served up by a handsome fellow? Not much, if you ask me. or the rest of the Bridal Guide staff! We had the pleasure of hosting Jonathan Pogash, acclaimed NYC-based master mixoligist and the brains behind many of the top cocktail menus in the city. He shook his stuff (well, really his shaker) and introduced us to three new flavors of Smirnoff vodka: melon, Tuscan lemonade and melon:

Not only did he school us in the history of vodka and bar lingo, he made us three fabulous but easy cocktails.

Melon “tini”

1.5 oz. Smirnoff melon vodka
Splash of pineapple juice
Combine ingredients, shake and strain into a martini glass. Garnish with a fresh honeydew or cantaloupe ball.

Pomegranate Limon

1.5 oz. Smirnoff pomegranate vodka
4 oz. lemonade
Pour into a tall glass over ice. Garnish with a lemon wedge.

Smirnoff Tuscan Lemonade

This is the easiest of all. it's ready to serve! It combines the classic taste of Smirnoff No 21 with Limoncello liqueur and a touch of citrus. Jonathan recommends keeping it in the freezer so it's nice and chilled.

After Jonathan showed us the professional way to mix drinks, he gave us a shot at it. Susan and I weren't as professional as he was, but we had a laugh trying:

As Jonathan emphasized, signature wedding cocktails don't have to be expensive. The recipes above were delish and only included TWO ingredients! The Tuscan flavor is as simple as opening the bottle.

For other inside tips from Jonathan, go to thecocktailguru.com. To buy the newest flavors of Smirnoff, hit up your local liqueur store. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée at 12:24 p.m.

101 Things to Do Before...

Hey ladies! I hope all is well in your world of wedding planning. In the little spare time I have (which is few and far between!), I've been reading this gem of a book-No Regrets: 101 Fabulous Things to Do Before You're Too Old, Married, or Pregnant by Sarah Ivens (published by Broadway Books).

Of course, I kind of missed the boat with the pregnancy card, but it's full of great ideas on how to live your life. And personally, I think a lot of Sarah's suggestions would be even better shared with your favorite beau. A few of my faves were 'Ride a Mechanical Bull (did that at the Rodeo Bar on Sunset and fell on my face!), 'Quit the Job You Hate' (that's how I ended up in New York), 'Finish Unfinished Business" (still trying), 'Eat Too Much in Italy' (aspiring to), and 'Learn a Foreign Language' (Molly's sitter is teaching me more than I learned in three years of high school Spanish).

It's really one of those books that give you a good feeling in the pit of your stomach even if you only do one thing from it. In case you weren't already intrigued, Sarah Ivens is the editor at large for the U.S. edition of OK! magazine. In all your wedding planning chaos, it's nice to take a timeout and do something for yourself. Check out your local bookstore to buy or go to amazon.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 4:20 p.m.

So Simple

Executive Editor, Susan Schneider, aka The Budget Guru

Our wonderful creative friend, event planner Karen Bussen, is such a whiz that she not only plans weddings and other parties, but she also writes books. gorgeous books (and yes, she writes them all herself; no ghost writers for Karen!). So Bridal Guide freelancer Kristen Finello and I were thrilled to hear that she has a new book out called Simple Stunning Parties at Home, which is all about how to throw a party. any kind of party. and gives you recipes to boot. (You may recall her earlier Simple Stunning Weddings.) Even better, Karen held her book party at Bloomingdale's on Lexington Avenue and 59th Street, so we hopped over there post-haste.

We found Karen on Bloomies' 6th floor in the Registry department in a hubbub of friends and colleagues, surrounded by her signature table settings and floral arrangements, and autographing her book. Check out Kristen's photos! We availed ourselves of champagne and hors d'oeuvres. (Psst: Going to book parties and other events is at least 50% about the food and drinks!)

A simply stunning table setting--perfect for entertaining

A bright, colorful place setting for summer meals

Now you may wonder what Karen means by “simple.” Well, we asked her. “Don't waste anything, don't be ostentatious and do be conscious of the choices you make,” she told us. We love Karen's ideas because they're not only simple but tasteful. she confided to us that everything on the book jacket is from Ikea (inexpensive!):

The takeaway? You can do things inexpensively and still be utterly elegant. Yes, you can!

Posted by Susan at 11:30 a.m.

Good KARMA

I stopped by a product round-up last week hosted by the stellar staff at ThinkPR and have to share with you two bev options that you should keep on the radar for your upcoming nups or easy entertaining. KARMA, a single-serve sparkling wine, was created by San Diego native Patrick Wilson (anything west coast always holds a special place in my heart) who, in his own words, 'believes every day is a celebration.'

Each bottle contains a glass and a half serving (160 calories), has a twist off cap and can be enjoyed directly from the bottle. The gals at ThinkPR even suggest that fresh fruit or juice can be added to the bottle for a slight variation. This is a cute option for wedding favors, toasts or simply to enjoy at home. Each bottle is $6.99 or $28 for a pack of four. A cool side note is that KARMA is served on all Virgin America flights. Tre chic! Buy it at karmabeverages.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimee at 5:20 p.m.

Diane and the Five-Cupcake Birthday Party

Once upon a time there was an Editor in Chief named Diane Forden, whose birthday fell right smack in the middle of the spring bridal gown market. As Diane toiled from sun up to sun down, racing from designer to designer to marvel over every new, beautiful white gown in New York City, her staff back at the office was hard at work too. planning a party with a double purpose: to surprise Diane and to test out a super-trendy new line of cupcakes to see whether we want to recommend them to all you brides.

Here's how it all began: A few weeks ago, Associate Art Director Lindsay Beitler happened to attend a sneak peek of Justin Giunta's new jewelry collection (subversivejewelry.com), where she perused some pretty incredible jewelry and sampled the teeniest, tiniest and most delicious cupcakes in the whole wide world. “I swear, they're the size of quarters,” she enthused. “You can eat at least five before you've eaten as much as a regular cupcake!” At that moment I recalled reading about these mini-me treats, Baked by Melissa, in the New York Times. “Ah, ha!” we said in unison. “Let's get those for Diane's birthday!”

So Lindsay raced out in the pouring rain to pick up 50 of Melissa's baby cakes (they practically fit in her pocketbook). Was Diane surprised? Oh, my! Thrilled? Oh, boy. With bridal market over, all she could manage to say was “mmmmmmmmmm.”

Melissa's yummy, stuffed cupcakes come in these flavors: Cookie Dough, S'Mores, PB&J, Red Velvet, Cookies&Cream, Peanut Butter Cup, and for those Baby Boomer ex-hippie parents of yours, Tie-Dye! Yeah!

We're all for serving cupcakes at weddings. go to my blog, 'The Budget Guru,' to find out why. Hint: They cost less than traditional wedding cakes and are really fun to gulp down with champagne.

Posted by Susan at 10:43 a.m.

Yoga for Manolo Addicts

Help is at hand (or foot) for all of you (and you know who you are), who just can't resist wearing stiletto heels at every possible occasion, not to mention at your wedding. Yoga teacher Susi Hately Aldous (functionalsynergy.com) has developed exercises for what she calls the “high heel syndrome”. the miserable aching tootsies known to woman!

Susi's yoga workouts for the soles address soreness due to muscle fatigue in the balls of the feet, the calves and even in the back and hips (ouch!).

When you wear high heels, the plantar fasciae (the connective tissue supporting the arch of the foot) get tight and sore. These stretches help release the tightness.

Give yourself a toe massage: Put your fingers between your toes (index finger between big and second toe, middle finger between the third toe, and so on). Then gently pull toes toward your shin. You'll feel a stretch along the bottoms of the feet. Pull each toe, sliding from the base of the toe to the tip (this feels great!).

And your calves will love a rubdown too: In a sitting position, cross one ankle over the opposite knee. Position both thumbs at the ankle bone and slowly massage up the inside of the calf toward the knee. Change ankles.

For more tips from Susi Hately Aldous, check the “Body File” page in the current issue of Bridal Guide.

Posted by Susan Schneider, Executive Editor at 5:47 p.m.

Our Favorite New Workout!

Here's a stat for you: a recent study of 300 engaged women found that 70% wanted to lose weight for their wedding. The average desired weight loss? 23 pounds. Here at the office we've discovered a fabulous new way to help you get that body of yours in wedding-dress-perfect shape: Pilates!

This workout involves the “core”. or “powerhouse”. muscles; in other words, your abs. It isn't easy. but nothing worthwhile ever is, right? Check out the photos here, from when Alana Reid, a Pilates instructor, visited our offices a little while ago. We unrolled our mats and got down on the floor and went right to it. Pretty soon we were huffing and puffing. Our editor in chief, Diane Forden, was wearing a dress that day (a very cute one, of course), so she got to stand back and take the snaps!

Since Alana visited us, I've signed up for Pilates classes in my neighborhood. Now I go on weekends and whenever I can in the evenings. It's a workout that takes all your concentration. so you have at least an hour when you can't worry about anything (great for brides stressing over wedding planning). Already my “core” is stronger as are my arms and legs. And I could swear that my waistline is getting whittled. So try it. Pilates and a healthy diet will help you lose that 23 pounds. And just imagine that worry-free hour. now that's worth its weight in gold.

Jell-O with a Twist

Jell-O Mousse-Tini

Prep Time: 10 min. plus refrigeration time
Makes: 8 servings (1/2 cup each)

Ingredients:
2 packages (3oz. each) Jell-O Gelatin, any flavor, divided
2 1/2 cups boiling water
1 tub (8 oz.) Cool Whip, frozen or thawed
1/2 cup Vodka or water
1 Tbsp. Lime juice

Make It:
Spread 1 package gelatin onto large plate. Dip rims of 8 dessert glasses (they used martini glasses) in cold water and then in dry gelatin mix. Set aside. Pour unused gelatin into medium bowl. Add remaining mix. Gradually add boiling water, stirring 2 minutes with whisk until mix is dissolved. Stir in remaining ingredients.

Pour into gelatin-rimmed glasses.

Refrigerate 2 hours or until firm.

Elba topped ours with perfectly spiraled lemon peels for a nice visual touch. I wish I could tell you about the other two flavors I tried, but they are top secret and oh-so-yummy. These are a fun, fresh take on cocktails for pre-wedding bashes, showers and even dinner parties. Bonus: Most concoctions range between 150–200 calories per serving. For more info, go to jellolounge.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée Morgan, Wedding & Home Associate Editor at 3:07 p.m.

Booty Parlor

With all the hustle and bustle of planning a wedding, a girl's got to take a moment to relax…with her hottie husband-to-be. Luckily, the lovely ladies over at Booty Parlor are here to help turn up the heat on your next romantic rendezvous. They sent over a bag of goodies and here are a couple of my non X-rated faves.

Don't Stop Massage Candle: At first I wasn't sure…was it a candle or massage oil? Well, actually, both. It's a rich blend of natural soy wax, vitamins A & E and jojoba, olive and coconut oils. plus it smells delish (I have Spicy Chocolate Cinnamon but it also comes in Exotic Sandalwood Vanilla) and is absolutely body-friendly. Simply burn the candle until the top liquefies, blow out the flame and enjoy. Ladies, use your common sense when playing with fire and enjoy this sexy addition to your typical massage. It's $36 and has approximately 42 hours of burn time. Soo worth the money.

Dust Up Kissable Body Shimmer: For any girl that wants to highlight her curve-alicious body, this is for you. What I love is that while it's a little something extra sexy for your beau. it is completely edible. it also doubles as a body and face highlighter. Plus it's portable for travel and comes in 3 yummy flavors and shades: Crusin' for a Bronzin'. Cinnamon Sugar, Don't Call Me Honey. Honey, and Punch Drunk Pink. Cotton Candy. $28 each

There were some other blush-worthy products included in my goodie bag, but I'll let you check those out yourself at bootyparlor.com. Cheers!

Posted by Aimée Morgan, Weddings & Home Associate Editor at 4:44 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Stella Katsipoutis, Bridal Guide Intern

The Name Game

With my last name, Katsipoutis, I can't help but long for the day when I finally get to take on my future hubby's surname. hopefully it's less than eleven letters long! What I'm not looking forward to, however, is all the commotion that comes along with having your name officially changed: digging through stacks of forms and making tedious trips to the Social Security Administration. Lucky for me. and for all you brides who also dread that looming mountain of paperwork. I just heard about a great tool that makes the transition from “Miss” to “Mrs.” (or “Ms.”) fast, easy and hassle-free.

MissNowMrs.com is an online service that simplifies the name change process. All of your needs. whether you'd like to hyphenate, take your maiden name as your new middle name, or make a traditional name change. are taken care of in just a few simple steps. After guiding you through a series of questions, the site uses the answers you provide to automatically fill in all of your current state and U.S. government name change forms (including Social Security, IRS8822, U.S. Passport, United States Postal Service, and State Driver's License). I like how you don't have to hunt down the most current forms. they're automatically provided for you! Notification letters for banks, credit cards, mortgage providers, utilities and insurance companies are prepared for you, too, based on your preferences.

Once everything's printed, you're given step-by-step instructions for filing and mailing your forms. Only a 30-minute process, MissNowMrs.com is said to save you an average of 13 hours of research and online waiting time. And phone, email, and live online help are all there to answer any questions you may have. Worried about your personal info being kept private? The site is protected by HackerSafe and VeriSign. You're also given the option to skip any questions that you feel uncomfortable answering (like giving your Social Security Number) and write them in on your printed forms. With a service cost of $29.95 and available gift cards, it even makes a great bridal shower or wedding gift.

Now, thanks to MissNowMrs.com, I can thoroughly enjoy my fantasy of having a five-letter last name. A girl can dream…

Posted by Stella at 4:05 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Stella Katsipoutis, Bridal Guide Intern

Favors of Love

Ever since I was a tot with Shirley Temple curls, I've had a soft spot for animals (I still can't walk past a cute dog without stopping to pet the little furball). So, you can imagine how excited I was when I found out about this heartwarming alternative to handing out wedding favors.

When you donate to their Wedding Favors program, the ASPCA will send you commemorative cards to leave at guests' table settings and let them know about your generous token of puppy and kitty love. Here's how to make a donation: Visit the ASPCA Wedding Favors homepage, and indicate how many place cards you'd like for your reception. Then, select your donation amount and type in your billing information. Your cards will be mailed to you right away!

If saving the lives of animals really gets your tail wagging, you can also create an ASPCA Wedding Page, where guests can make donations in your honor in place of wedding gifts. Your personal page will allow you to upload photos, share your love story with your friends, and read notes from loved ones in your guest book. You can send your guests a personalized invitation to your page with the email tool, or you can post your easy-to-remember URL on your personal web site, blog, or social networking profile. Makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside, doesn't it?

Do you and your hubby-to-be have another cause that's close to your hearts? Visit the Bridal Guide Charitable Giving site for a list of non-profit organizations that have wedding donation programs just like this one.

Posted by Stella at 4:36 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Stella Katsipoutis, Bridal Guide Intern

You're Invited!

Whenever I get a wedding invitation in the mail, I always feel a little twitch of excitement run through my fingers. I just love tearing up the envelope and taking, what I like to think of as, my first sneak peek at the wedding. But I also find myself wondering: How does a bride-to-be choose from all those one-of-a-kind colors and designs that exist out there? It could get pretty confusing, right? Well, I thought I'd help you out. I just heard about this great event that's being hosted nationwide this Saturday… and the best part is, it's free!

Mark your calendars, because on February 21, all Paper Source stores will be showcasing their 2009 wedding invitation collection. Brides (and anyone else who's looking for some creative inspiration) are welcome to hear the latest advice on how to personalize their stationery suite at an affordable cost. Ongoing demos (running from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.) will be featuring do-it-yourself tips and creative ideas for everything from save-the-dates to tabletop décor. The event will also be featuring. perfect for all you hands-on gals. make-and-take sessions, where guests can try out design techniques like rubber-stamping and heat embossing.

So if you're up for a casual day of mingling with the paper-pros, click here to find a Paper Source store location near you. You'll be sure to whip up the perfect invite that'll have your guests' fingers tingling, too.

Posted by Stella at 4:22 p.m.

Have a Sweet V-Day!

Guest Blogger: Stella Katsipoutis, Bridal Guide Intern

One of the things I'm starting to love about this internship is that sometimes we get to sneak preview wedding-related stuff before it's released. I was excited to check out the movie, Before You Say “I Do” (starring David Sutcliffe, Jennifer Westfeldt, and Lauren Holly), which will premier on the Hallmark Channel at 9/8 central this Saturday. And, of course, give you the scoop on whether or not it's worth tuning in.

My verdict? Sweet as a box of coconut-filled chocolates! (Mmm!)

Here's the story line: George proposes to his girlfriend, Jane, thinking that their marriage is written in the proverbial stars. But, when Jane turns down his proposal because she's been through an ugly divorce and is afraid of a repeat, George wishes that he could have met Jane before her first marriage…and you know what they say about those wishes. Traveling 10 years back in time, George has only three days to win Jane's affections all over again. before she marries Doug, her first husband. and prove that their relationship is positively timeless. Far-fetched, yes, but fun.

So, I say, if you're tired of the annual Valentine's Day restaurant-then-theater dash, break out the champagne, curl up next to the one you love, and enjoy a laid-back evening filled with a whole lotta romance. (And, of course, don't forget the chocolate!)

Posted by Stella at 11:01 a.m.

Outside the Box

Is Bridal Guide moving offices? No! This is a behind-the-scenes photo I took at a recent photo shoot. Those ordinary boxes actually hold something quite extraordinary… wedding cakes!

I always think, if only brides knew that those gorgeous confections that we painstakingly photograph come in such ugly packages.

Here's a little peek inside:

This shoot is for a story on wedding ideas for each of the four seasons. So, no matter when you're marrying, it will hopefully be inspiration to you! We've got cakes, flowers, invitations, favors and other gorgeous goodies.

So to see what was in the boxes, get a more up-close view of the flowers. and much, much more seasonal goodness, pick up Bridal Guide's March/April 09 issue. It's out now though March 16.

Posted by Elena at 2:35 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Simone Porter, Bridal Guide Intern

A Helping Hand

Hey! My name is Simone and I'm an intern here at Bridal Guide. I recently graduated with a degree in Journalism and I'm ready to put this thing to use. I'm an aspiring editor, a Bridezilla fanatic and a major romance enthusiast so I'm definitely qualified for the position. While a candle-lit Parisian dinner party sounds mighty tempting, lately I've been thinking that a Cinderella theme is more my speed. (Minus the evil stepsisters and mice.) The bridal party would glide in gracefully to some really beautiful Amel Larrieux song and afterwards, we'd head straight to the mountains for hours and hours of Julie Andrews-inspired song and dance. I'm going to need the editors at Bridal Guide to help me fine-tune my wedding plans for sure. Oh, and I forgot to include shrimp. I love shrimp. :)

Posted by Simone at 12:18 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Stella Katsipoutis, Bridal Guide Intern

Trend Report: Food

Chicken, beef or fish? When it comes down to the menu, sometimes your options can seem pretty... well, stale. Thankfully, Carlyn Berghoff-owner of the innovative Berghoff Catering & Restaurant Group-was kind enough to share some of the latest wedding food trends of 2009 with me (and I was just itching to let you in on her ideas). This year, the menu's getting personal.

Colored Salts

My mom, the NaCl aficionado, would love this one... Available in a variety of flavors-tangerine, lavender, smoked paprika, and kaffir lime, to name a few-these salts add flair and a hint of exotic flavor to any wedding-day dish. Use them as a garnish for your entrees, display them on dinner tables for guests to sprinkle to their taste, or package them in a decorative jar and hand them out as favors.

Pot Pie Stations

Wanna have some fun with your feast? Perfect for a late-night wedding snack, mini pot pie stations give comfort food a contemporary twist. You can even go ethnic by serving curry, chicken or Sheppard's pot pies.

Plank Salmon

Fish has never looked so chic. This gorgeous plank adds a special flavor to the salmon, indulging both your taste buds and your visual appetite. Berghoff suggests trimming the dish with potatoes, lemon wedges and colorful vegetables to kick the wow-factor up a notch for your guests.

Deconstructed Bloody Mary Shooter Bar

A Bloody Mary shooter station is a fresh addition to the customary open bar, and it's a tasty way to top off the night. Here's to your standout spread... Bottoms up!

Posted by Stella at 11:41 a.m.

My African Adventure, Part 3

The story of my African adventure ends on a completely non-diamond-related note. While I was there, I had to do a few touristy things. The most impressive? Heading to Chobe Game Lodge in Botswana, which is a lovely resort located inside a massive national park.

The park is a game preserve and has a ton of animals. The smaller ones can come onto the resort's property. Here's a happy warthog chomping on some grass right next to the pool:

Throughout the park, you can take boat and car safaris and see some amazing animals in the wild. Here are a few photos I took:

The moral of my safari story is this: If you're considering an African safari honeymoon, I highly recommend one!

For more info on where diamonds come from, remember to look for Bridal Guide's July/August 09 issue. it will be on newsstands May 19. That's a ridiculously long time from now, so mark your calendar!

For a quicker jewelry fix, pick up our March/April 09 issue, which just hit newsstands. there's a fun piece on swapping fine jewelry gifts with your groom.

Thanks for taking a peek into my adventure!

Posted by Elena at 11:29 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Stella, Bridal Guide Intern

Fresh Face

Hi! My name is Stella, and I'm one of the new spring interns here at Bridal Guide. Having been brought up in a Greek home, weddings have always been a very big deal throughout my life (think My Big Fat Greek Wedding, and you'll get the idea). What I love about weddings is the creative blending of tradition and personalization-the sharing of new beginnings in a style that celebrates both the couple's history and their personality. Like many other young women, I've already mentally mapped out all the details of my dream wedding-everything from the dress to the DJ's play list-but I'm always on the lookout for fun new ideas, trends, and advice that I can add into the mix when my time finally comes to start planning the big day. I am so excited to be interning here this spring, and I can't wait to share with you all the fun, interesting, and helpful tips that I dig up along the way!

Posted by Stella at 5:58 p.m.

My African Adventure, Part 2

Where did I leave off? Oh yeah, Botswana, known for its exportation of diamonds. There, I got to check out the Orapa Mine, which is categorized as an “open pit” mine, as opposed to an “underground” mine (which sounds like it would bring out the claustrophobic in me). I'm not sure the photo does it any justice. being there was like looking out onto the Grand Canyon. So massive.

Before going into the mine's property, we had to suit up in hard hats and steel-toed shoes.

Sexy kicks, huh?

Here's a 240-ton truck, used to transport all the dirt and rocks unearthed at the site. Diamonds are found attached to a larger rock, called Kimberlite. There's a lot of digging to be done to find the Kimberlite and then, hopefully, find diamonds on them.

There I am in the white shirt, hanging out on the truck. No, I don't understand why we had to wear hard hats when we weren't actually going to go into the pit of the mine. I just went with it.

We also headed to DTC Botswana in Gabarone, Botswana, to see how diamonds are sorted. There are these huge machines that sort based on color, size, shape. and whatever else differentiates one stone from the next. I believe this one sorted by shape:

All the machine sorting is then checked by the human eye. Yes, people can do a better job than machines!

I kept thinking that the sorters must have so much patience to be examining these stones so closely for long periods of time. I'd go crazy.

Did you know that diamonds are often used in industrial practices? Since they're the hardest stone on earth, they can be used in drilling, cutting and other techie-type stuff. So, diamonds are also sorted into “industrial quality” and “gem quality.” These ones have been deemed gem quality. In other words, they'll probably get cut and polished and then set into the engagement ring of some lucky bride like you.

Come back soon for more on Africa!

Posted by Elena at 4:50 p.m.

My African Adventure, Part 1

Here at Bridal Guide, I cover fine jewelry and I often write about lovely things like diamonds. Well, somehow this time, research for a story took me across the globe (lucky me!): I was invited on a media tour to South Africa and Botswana in order to see exactly where diamonds are mined, cut, polished and sorted. I'm planning on writing about my first-hand observations in an upcoming story for BG. I want to give our readers a glimpse into the process of how their diamond came to be on their finger. makes sense, right? I mean, most of us are wearing them in our engagement rings but don't know much at all about where they come from and why on earth they're so valuable.

So, I don't want to totally spoil my upcoming story (which won't run until our July/August 09 issue, so you're just going to have to wait. Sorry!), but I do want to tell you about all the stuff I experienced and learned that won't make it into the piece.

Our first stop on the trip? Johannesburg, South Africa.

Here, we visited Graff, a diamond polishing factory. And I learned a bunch about how diamonds go from rough (like the diamond on the right) to polished (like the diamond on the left).

These are quite the rocks, aren't they?

Look at these whoppers. a massive colorless one and a just-as-impressive yellow one. Yow!

If you shopped for your engagement ring with your fiancé, you probably know about the four C's of diamond grading. And that one of the C's is “color.” Well, what I didn't know is that color grading is usually done with the human eye. To match each stone with its proper color category, it's compared to the faux stone on a chart like this one:

One of my fellow travelers even got to try her hand at guessing a stone's color grade. She did pretty well!

I've been writing about diamonds for almost three years now. I thought I knew a lot. but this trip made me realize that I've just scratched the surface. There's so much!

Like this pretty sweet new technology in diamond cutting: a larger piece of rough is scanned into the computer, and then a special program analyzes it and tells the cutter exactly how many stones it should be broken into. and what size and shape they should be. in order to get the most value out of the piece. Can you believe that this one will be cut into six different diamonds? It's 37 carats total! The process is so technical. That's what I love about jewelry: It's both an art and a science.

So, a lot of people have opinions on diamonds in Africa. and I don't really know what's the truth and what's not. That said, maybe you'll find my next stop interesting…

This is the “Diamonds for Dignity” feeding center, which is funded by the diamond industry and is part of the African Children's Feeding Scheme. the organization feeds 21,000 school kids every day. These kids are either orphans, or they come from poor families, or their parents are unemployed. There's a chance that some of them might not get to eat the rest of the day, so they're given about 80% of the vitamins and protein they need all at once.

Our group was lucky enough to visit and serve lunch to a group of the kids. peanut butter sandwiches and milk were on the menu today. And afterwards, everyone wanted to get their picture taken. What beautiful, cheerful faces!

I don't doubt that there are probably people in the world who do bad things with valuable commodities such as diamonds. But when I saw this program and that the diamond industry is involved in it (and some others, too), that made me feel really good!

Next we packed our bags (here they are getting tagged at the airport) and jetted to Botswana, the largest exporter of gem-quality diamonds… check back later to see what I discovered there!

Posted by Elena at 3:11 p.m.

Chalk Talk

Recently, I was working on a gift story and this chalkboard candle showed up for my consideration. I loved it, but thought it could be so much more than a gift!

Why not take these candles and put them at each guest's place setting with his or her name written prettily on it? (Our lovely junior designer, Morgan, who is also a talented illustrator, wrote on this one for me.) Then, it's a combo place card and favor-and a decor item too.

These candles are hand-poured and made of 100% soy wax (quickly becoming my candle ingredient of choice), and each one comes with a three-pack of chalk (white, blue and pink).

This would be a fun idea for showers or small receptions. And is especially clever if the bride or groom works in education. Don't you think?

The chalkboard candle is available for $19.50 at delight.com.

Posted by Elena at 11:58 a.m.

Invites. In Style!

Brides-to-be, imagine this. For months, you scour all the boutiques and stores you can find looking for that ideal wedding dress. Finally, you find it. It is perfect! You love it so much you wish the designer could create other essentials for the wedding, like invitations. Well, consider this your lucky day! Now you can get wedding stationery and invitations devised by the famed celebrity fashion designer Monique Lhuillier.

Inspired by her wedding gowns and home collections, the Monique Lhuillier Fine Paper Collection is “for the bride who wants classic, elegant wedding invitations with a modern twist.” The collection is made with the luxe, heavy papers, satin ribbons and printing process such as engraving, thermography and letterpress.

There are invitations to fit every kind of ceremony; from regal and elegant, like this monogrammed invitation:

To dainty and romantic, like this one embossed with a cascade of petals, inspired by her runway fashions:

Pretty chic, huh?

The Monique Lhuillier Fine Paper Collection is now available for purchase online at myjeanm.com.

Posted by Tiffany at 3:04 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide Intern

Need Help With Your Wedding Budget?

I just heard about a really neat bridal 'how to' event series. If you are a do-it-yourself kind of bride who isn't hiring a wedding planner, this New York-based workshop series is for you. Wedding planner Lindsay Landman holds the New York Wedding Workshop on a regular basis to help brides-to-be plan their big-day budget, find the perfect vendors and make it all look gorgeous. Lindsay designed the workshops as an alternative to crowded bridal trade shows, only picking out the most quality vendors to showcase. The events are very interactive and brides from all over the tri-state area (and with all types of budgets!) come to meet with different vendors and ask questions of wedding planning experts.

Budget workshop. This Saturday's workshop is about getting the best value for your dollar, no matter what your budget is. Lindsay explains that rather than telling the brides how to plan a wedding on the cheap, she will help them find solutions for their individual budgets, instructing them on how to set realistic goals, decipher vendor pricing and negotiate a favorable contract. The brides will walk away with vendor referrals and shopping tips. Two New York-area vendors will participate in the workshop: Soho-based Elegant Affairs and wedding photographer Jason Groupp. Lindsay says she expects about 30 brides; are you one of them?

When: Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Where: Yale Club of New York City, 50 Vanderbilt Ave. (at 44th Street). Price: $50. Buy tickets at nyweddingworkshop.com. Sorry for the short notice, but the RSVP deadline is today! You can email info@nyweddingworkshop.com or call 212-206-9201.

Insider tips. As a preview to this Saturday's workshop, I asked Lindsay to share some of her insider budget tips with you. Here goes:

• If you are negotiating a contract for a wedding in the next calendar year (so if you are booking your wedding now for a date in 2009), ask if you can have current-year pricing as most vendors and venues increase their prices incrementally when the calendar year changes.
• When ordering ceremony programs, order 25 fewer than the expected number of guests. After seven years of cleaning up after her clients' wedding ceremonies, she can tell you there are always a ton of programs remaining in the baskets or trays because many people only take one program per couple.
• Don't rent anything from a vendor who doesn't own what they are renting you. For example, if your florist wants to rent linens to you, but they don't own them, you will be paying at least 10 percent more than if you rented the linen from a direct source.

Color workshop. If you miss the one this Saturday, there are more workshops coming up! On Jan. 10 (another Saturday), Lindsay will hold a 'how to design on a dime' workshop where future brides can learn about choosing the right color and texture combos for their weddings. This one promises to be a ton of fun, because participants will get to play with real invitations, menus, programs, flowers, etc. to pick the right decor for their weddings, experimenting with colors, textures and styles. Participants will leave the session with a handy list of shopping resources, how-to guides for how to create wedding paper products and vendor referrals.

More upcoming events. If it's how to document your wedding that's stumping you, on Jan. 31, Lindsay will host a how-to series on hiring the right photographer and videographer. She knows tons of vendors and what to look for in one! And Feb. 18 promises a 'We're Engaged!' meet-and-greet, where brides can show off their rings, share engagement stories and compare notes on wedding plans. The group's Feb. 28 signature event, which Lindsay says always brings a big crowd, is more couple-oriented. It will introduce couples to more vendors, including ideas for honeymoon planning, wedding rings and party favors, and some vendors will hold panel discussions.

Posted by Natalie at 12:31 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide Intern

Picture This! Part 2

I just can't get enough of this creative wedding photography! This time, I want to introduce you to husband-and-wife photog team Reilly and Miranda Lievers. When the pair got married eight years ago, they were checking out traditional wedding photos and, well, hated them. I totally agree. sometimes they're so stiff, and the poses are uncomfortable and unnatural. So Reilly and Miranda decided to open their own studio, Blue Olive Photography in Vancouver, Canada and began shooting just-married couples in settings that fit their personality, like this splashing duo:

Or, something purely scenic, like in this pastoral shot:

About half of the pair's client base is local, and the other half is out-of-towners. Hmm… a destination wedding in beautiful Vancouver. I can totally picture it!

Posted by Natalie at 10:32 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide Intern

Picture This!

I'm sure you're picturing an elegant, tasteful wedding. But after you're pronounced husband and wife, maybe you want to let loose. Here at Bridal Guide, we've been hearing about couples doing just that-and having their wedding photographers there to capture their big-day hijinx!

Yes, some creative photogs are shooting couples wearing their wedding duds in the desert, running through the streets of New York, swimming underwater-doing just about anything that Mom and Dad wouldn't have dreamed of doing in their formal photos. (Some call these shots 'trash the dress' photos, but we don't like that term, well, because we adore wedding dresses-and they don't necessarily get 'trashed' during these photo shoots.)

I had the pleasure of interviewing Roberto Falck, who runs a boutique photography studio in Brooklyn and specializes in photographing couples underwater. Falck, who is a diver, started shooting underwater a couple of years ago while on location in the Caribbean. Check out the above pic of a couple taking the plunge!

Falck usually arrives about an hour before a wedding to document the preparation, in order to put together a comprehensive 'wedding story.' But for the creative outdoor photos, he usually schedules an after-wedding-day session with the couple. Most of the underwater work is done in swimming pools in the New York area. (But only during the summer-brrr!!)

So go ahead, start dreaming up some fun ways for you and your fiance to let loose-and be sure you find the right photographer to help you pull it off!

Posted by Natalie at 10:14 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Tiffany, Bridal Guide Intern

Say Cheese!

I've come to the point in adulthood where having small get-togethers and entertaining at home are much more appealing than going clubbing (goodbye cover charges, cramped spaces and pretending that my feet don't hate me for wearing those stilettos). So, new and fun ideas that will bring friends over for a great time together always catch my attention. That's why I think The Cheese Ambassador is a great idea for parties and a foolproof way to plan a bridal shower or pre-wedding get together.

You can purchase the company's products. cheese collections that make figuring out what to serve easy. on its website. Their American Artisanal Collection comes with aged gouda from Wisconson, Amish cheddar from Pennsylvania, and cave-aged Blue from Southern Minnesota. The Mediterranean Collection features “tipsy” goat cheese from Spain, Port Salut from France, and piave cheese from Italy. Each collection comes with a detailed list of what to serve with each cheese (dried fruit, fresh fruit, almonds), a list of which beverages to best complement the cheese (a hearty Cabernet or a light Zinfandel) and even the particulars on the ideal way to enjoy the cheese (at room temperature, for instance). Pretty nifty, huh? Because although I like cheese, like most people, I am no expert on the different types and qualities of cheese and wine. I'll take all the help I can get. And this is like having your own professional cheese connoisseur right in the box!

At about $35 for a collection, it's not a splurge for a party. Heck, you could use The Cheese Ambassador to inspire the entire cheese course at your wedding! Or, at the very least, add a little wine, bread and fruit, and have a tasty night in with your fiancé! The Cheese Ambassador is available in high-end supermarkets or online at thecheeseambassador.com.

Posted by Tiffany at 2:26 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide Intern

For Love and Money

At one point, my boyfriend's face decorated both my computer desktop and cell phone wallpaper, and that plus Facebook amounted to more than enough during-the-day face time. But if you really can't get enough of your sweetheart and want to see his smiling mug every time you get your morning Starbucks or go on a wild shopping spree (I know, so likely these days), you can personalize your plastic.

For only $5.95, GiftCardLab.com lets you pick a photo of your choice. you and your fiancé, your cat, James Franco…. to decorate a Visa gift card. What a perfect gift for those who don't know what to give. simple, yet personal. On GiftCardLab.com, you can upload a photo and enlarge, rotate, flip or crop it to make sure it looks the way you want it to. You can also get a name and message embossed on the card, which is included in the price. Plus, the site lets you share card designs with friends and family and save created designs for later.

And why stop at a photo of your guy? Take a close-up of your engagement ring or bridal bouquet so your wedding memories always travel with you in your wallet. Or treat your bridesmaids. get them gift cards with a group pic of the bridal party. The possibilities are endless!

Posted by Natalie at 2:46 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide Intern

All That Sparkles

I love that my internship duties include thumbing through gems like Unbridaled. The Marriage of Tradition and Avant Garde, a book recently published by luxury crystal brand Swarovski. It's filled with beautifully shot photos of crystal-covered dresses, dishes and more. You can lose yourself for hours imagining your dream wedding in faraway locations as you look at the elaborate dresses featured in the book, like ones with poofy Vivienne Westwood skirts, jewel-encrusted Dries van Noten frocks and exotic Middle East–inspired gowns. Over 100 designers contributed to the book, including John Galliano and Vera Wang.

But I'll leave the dresses to our fashion department. Let's talk tableware, bouquets and invitations. Crystals add a little extra sparkle to these invites by Crane & Co., RedBliss and Creative Intelligence:

And nothing says “I'm willing to splurge and care about details” like this bottle decoration, made by the Swarovski Crystallized design team for Moet Chandon:

In the previous post, Susan gave some great ideas for how to decorate your bouquet with crystals. Well, why not a bouquet that's made of crystals, like this one by Philippe Ferrandis?

And I just couldn't get enough of the composition of some of the shots in this book. Check out this Magritte-like photo of plates seemingly flying out of a bustier:

In case you want to try this at home, the bustier is by Chantal Thomass, the plates by Manufacture de Monaco and the glass domes underneath by Fleux. Totally impractical, but so gorgeous, right? Clearly, this book is a collection of inspirations, not a wedding primer filled with practical ideas. But there are already enough how-to books out there. And incorporating just a few of these fantasy elements could turn your wedding dream into reality.

Unbridaled is available for $59.95 at Saks Fifth Avenue, New York City and Mexico City; Rizzoli, New York City; Archivia, New York City; Book Soup, Los Angeles; East End Books, East Hampton, NY; Books & Book, Coral Gables, FL; Assouline.com; and Amazon.com.

Posted by Natalie at 2:27 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Susan Schneider, Executive Editor

Bloom Service

For me, flowers are the best part of a wedding-bouquets and table arrangements are, quite simply, works of art that are all the more beautiful for being transitory. Even more than that, I believe that the flowers we love express our inner selves and that these blooms are our counterpart in nature. Amidst the lush garden of available choices, how do you find your wedding flowers?

Try this visualization exercise: Close your eyes and let the image of a flower float into view. Don't try to force it; let the image come to you. The flower you see-whether it be a shy, pretty violet, a gorgeous full-blown rose, an exotic orchid or a fragrant wildflower-is your flower. Perhaps it's a bloom from a childhood garden or from your own backyard or even from a tropical island that you visited years ago. Whatever the flower may be, imagine building your bridal bouquet around it. Does it feel right to you?

For more inspiration, here are a couple of examples from a gorgeous new book from Watson-Guptill that recently crossed my desk:

Bouquet Chic: Wedding Flowers for More than 100 Romantic Looks
Photography by Jim Henkens

This cheerful hand-tied gathering of spidery gerbera daisies has a feathery soft texture that's just right for an outdoor spring wedding. Self-adhesive Austrian crystals (in flower centers) are available at specialty florist supply stores or you can buy faux crystals at a crafts store and glue them on.

For a bouquet with a tropical feeling, vibrant cattleya orchids, imported from Thailand, brighten this clutch of Milva roses and delphinium blossoms. The bouquet is trimmed with double-faced satin and capriccio ribbon.

Posted by Susan at 10:21 a.m.

Getting Organized

I'm no stranger to working hard. But when I work, I want to make it as easy on myself as possible-maybe even a little bit enjoyable. And I know you brides probably feel the same way. That's why I wanted to cover products that make wedding planning simple and fun in our latest issue, November/December 2008 (on newsstands now).

So I featured organizational supplies, no-brainer DIY projects and kits that eliminate a million shopping trips-like this 'Bridessentials' kit from Ms. and Mrs.

And working on this story completely inspired me! I took my messy files in ugly manila folders and reorganized them by using some pretty ones from Galison. Check out the before and after:

So hopefully, I've inspired you to get organized, too. Trust me, an organized bride is a happier bride-and shouldn't all this hard work you're doing be just a little bit fun?

Posted by Elena at 4:08 p.m.

Our Latest Shoot

Want another peek behind the scenes at Bridal Guide? Go here to check out the post I wrote for weddingbee.com about our photo shoot on pre-wedding parties like the shower and bachelorette. The story will appear in the January/February 09 issue of BG, which will hit newsstands November 20-look for it then!

Posted by Elena at 11:50 a.m.

Another New Face

Hello! I'm Tiffany, and I just hopped on board as an editorial intern. My wedding fantasies are heavily affected by my love for fairy tales. (If you need fun facts on fairy-tale trivia, I'm your girl.) I have always imagined a Prince Charming groom and a matching magical big day (sans glass slippers-seems dangerous), not to mention, tons of music, food, and tribute to my hometown of Queens. Other than that, I am no expert on weddings, but I hope to learn more as I spend time at Bridal Guide. I graduated from St. John's University in May with a degree in communications and a passion for travel, so I'll be helping Jenna out with her travel blog, too. This internship is the ultimate excitement-I'll be learning the ins and outs of the magazine, sharing my travel experiences with you and bringing all the helpful wedding planning info I find along the way!

Posted by Tiffany at 11:22 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Susan Schneider, Executive Editor

Tied Together

Ribbon: The Art of Adornment (Gibbs Smith)
By Nicholas Kniel and Timothy Wright
Photography by Parker Clayton Smith

If you're anything like me, you like to relax by curling up with a beautiful book, chockfull of photos that are perfect for dreaming on. This tome is a treasure for any bride-to-be's coffee table (just watch your friends pick it up and leaf through it, ooh and aahing!). In the wedding section you'll find out how to use ribbons, or love knots, to heighten the beauty of your bouquet or to add a satiny sheen to your invitations. Ribbons are the 'extras,' the type of detail that makes a typically pretty table setting look really special. Also note that ribbons can be gotten quite inexpensively at your crafts store, and if you or your friends puts your heads and hands together, you can probably come up with some very sweet and unique ideas for your look.

Take a look at these ideas and let yourself dream!

Cake with gold ribbon accent: Here, gold ribbon with tiny, delicate bows decorates a cake swathed in fondant. The color of the ribbon reflects gold details on the bride's gown.

Invitation with red and blue ribbon accents: We always say that a wedding invitation sets the tone, mood and style of the wedding, so the look you choose is important. Nowadays, brides personalize their stationery in all kinds of ways, whether through color, shape or accent details. Silk satin ribbon is popular, as is organdy, velvet and taffeta. Here, an event's vibrant color scheme and celebratory feel is expressed in a festive ribbon treatment.

Bouquets tied with ribbon

All Buttoned Up: Vintage carved shell buttons fastened to ribbon-wrapped stems give a feminine, old-fashioned feel. The ballet-wrapped ribbon is in satins of contrasting color.

Color Burst: A bouquet of orange-tinged yellow roses with exposed stems is gathered into a ribbon and tied with a crisp bow to make a simple, elegant statement.

Sparkle Plenty: A band of white jacquard is layered over green satin; crystals add a touch of bling.

Table Touches: A vibrant setting uses fuchsia, shades of pink and turquoise. Four-inch-wide ribbon is tied in simple yet dramatic bows to each guest's chair. Ribbon in thematic hues adorns vases, napkins, votives and guest gifts-a wonderful (and inexpensive!) way to personalize your wedding style.

Posted by Susan at 12:25 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide intern

The Star Treatment

Marilyn Monroe once said, 'Everyone is a star and deserves the right to twinkle.' Of course, far from all of us can afford glitz and glamour, especially with the current economy. But despite the plunging Dow, real brides like you can feel like a star with services like these:

You can dazzle your guests by strutting into your engagement party the way the stars do-down a plush red carpet. Through Red Carpet Runway, you can rent a carpet and logo backdrop that features your and your fiance's name, wedding date or whatever else you dream up. The vinyl carpet is easily portable since it can be rolled up, and is even available in hues other than red, including black, blue, green, lime-green, off-white, pink, purple and orange-pick one to match your wedding theme!

I love this idea for a bachelorette party: Celeb4ADay provides you and your gang with 'personal paparazzi'-a group of real photographers who pretend to be paps and follow you around for a night, taking pictures and asking questions. The 'star' later gets a fake gossip magazine with her face on the cover. Company founder and owner Tania Cowher says that with bachelorette parties, this often results in hilarious questions like, 'How does Donny feel about you going out with George Clooney?' (Donny being the bride-to-be's future husband.) Warns Cowher: Wear sunglasses! All those flashes are bright.

You know those cute slideshows couples show at the rehearsal dinner or reception? Why not make yours the opportunity to star in your own professional-quality movie? LifeFilm Productions interviews a couple's family and friends to put together a documentary-style film about their relationship, usually shown at the reception. The movies typically include stories of the bride and groom's childhoods, how they met and how they got engaged. The filmmakers have real TV and film experience, and they integrate the interviews with home videos, photos and original footage they shoot of the couple.

Attention L.A. brides: Beverly Hills Rent-A-Car rents cars like the Mercedes Maybach (loved by Beyonce and Jay-Z) and Bentley Azure (loved by J-Lo) for a few thousand dollars a day. So you can ride to the ceremony-and into the sunset with your groom just like your favorite celebs!

Posted by Natalie at 11:23 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Natalie, Bridal Guide intern

Your Own Personal Shopper

Ever feel like your fiance is clueless about what to buy you? And that goes for jewelry too? Fear not: Amber Berger and Jennifer Rosenthal, the duo that founded personal jewelry shopping service 27 Facets, helps clients-60 percent of whom are clueless men, according to Amber-choose jewelry gifts. This could be not only for the bride, but for the bridal party, the bride's mother and father, the flower girl...you get the idea.

A few lovely pieces

When I talked to Amber, she explained to me that men tend to be more intimidated when it comes to buying jewelry. They're not always sure what to buy, what's in style and what the value is in the piece they are considering.

So Amber, who has a luxury-goods buying background and Jen, a certified gemologist and appraiser, swoop in. They consult with clients to get a sense of their budget and for whom they are buying. They ask questions like: Is her style classic? Trendy? Where does she work? Then they select a few pieces they think the client would like, bring them to their home or office (if it's in the New York area-if it's not, they mail the client pictures of the jewelry), and, once the client makes their choice, wrap and deliver it.

That should take all the guesswork out of choosing the perfect gift. Especially for him. Because wedding jewelry is the stuff you'll be wearing for decades to come. You shouldn't just like it-you should love it!

Posted by Natalie at 11:08 a.m.

Greetings!

Hi! My name is Natalie and I'm one of the fall editorial interns at Bridal Guide. After a stint at a local newspaper covering all kinds of neighborhood issues, I realized that creative invites, exotic honeymoon locales and wedding cakes would be way more fun to write about (there are so many gorgeous cakes out there!) My dream wedding would take place on a summer night on the rooftop of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., my hometown, overlooking the Potomac River. While the potential groom for this wedding recently, ahem, exited my life (coinciding with my move to New York City), I'm sure that working at Bridal Guide will help feed my wedding fantasies-groom or no groom! And I'm excited to bring you ideas and the latest wedding trends.

Posted by Natalie at 12:58 p.m.

Guest Blogger: Alison Rowe, Fashion & Beauty Associate Editor

Calling All Movie Buffs

Hi brides-to-be! Alison here from the Fashion & Beauty blog. Just wanted to drop by and share this cool little find with you.

I freely admit that I am really bad at choosing gifts for people. The same old items pop up in my mind as potential options: Maybe a bottle of wine, a great book or dinner out at the restaurant du jour. Not necessarily bad choices, but not very inventive, either. So when I see things that I think would be perfect for someone, I tend to buy and store. (Quite often though, I'll get so excited about it, that I want to give it to them sooner, which means I am back to square one-sad, I know!)

So. BFF's hubby's birthday is only two weeks away, and I was starting to have that what-can-we-get-him panic (in our house, it's up to me to sort out gift-giving). My friend's husband likes to be in-the-know about cool new places/gadgets, which makes him great to hang out with, but difficult to buy presents for-he's already outgrown the latest must-have before I even know it exists. But I had a total 'Aha' moment when I heard about Film Movement, which is basically like a super-cerebral version of Blockbuster.

Each month, they send you-or the person of your choice-a brand new, award-winning independent or foreign film, handpicked by a panel of experts. (Their mission is to bring these smaller films to a wider audience so that they can get the recognition they deserve.) And, unlike Netflix, you get to keep them so you can begin a personal collection of things that you're happy to have out on display. (Unlike my hubby's old prized collection of Smurfs, which are a much-loved and important part of his childhood, but not quite as impressive as stumbling across a box of esoteric foreign films!)

So if you are trying to figure out how to thank your friends for making the big day special, maybe try something like this. It's a little more specific, and bound to be remembered long after that bottle of wine.

Posted by Alison at 9:00 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Lisa, Bridal Guide intern

Trend Report: Favors

I'm especially indecisive when I have a lot of options. So I feel your pain if you can't quite choose one of the gazillion types of wedding favors floating around out there. These latest trends, shared with me by Winnie Ying at beau-coup.com, can narrow your choices and hopefully make your decision-making easier.

DIY
Winnie said that many brides today are getting hands-on and make their favors themselves, which allows them to get the exact look they're going for. (It can also be a money saver!) These Italian favor boxes and candy jars (which you assemble yourself) are among the site's top-selling DIY products.

Gourmet
Edible favors are popular, especially chocolate and candy. Winnie said gourmet edibles, like chocolate-dipped biscotti, premium olive oil and balsamic vinegar, are a recent trend. Mmm!

Seasonal
Try seasonally themed favors like these autumn leaf-shaped cookies. Winnie said that beach-themed favors were best selling during the early summer months, and now fall wedding favors are taking over.

Asian-style
How could you miss the spectacular Olympics in Beijing? The games' popularity may explain why Asian-inspired favors have grown in popularity this year. NBC's Today Throws a Wedding contest even featured an Asian-themed reception. I like these mini bamboo steamers because they're useful too!

Eco-friendly
So many brides are going green-maybe the earth-friendly trend will never go away! Plantable seeds and buds are popular, and so are 'lucky' bamboo plants (maybe you'll give guests good fortune too!). There are also favors that are made from recycled or biodegradable materials.

So did I help narrow it down for you-or just give you more ideas to choose from?

Posted by Lisa at 10:51 a.m.

Do I Smell a Trend?

First off, let me apologize for my brief hiatus from Bridal Buzz. I'm now back from my beach vacation-and what popped up on my computer screen but the idea that brides are starting to 'scent' their weddings. As if you don't have enough to think about: the decor everyone sees, the music they hear, the vows you speak and the food they'll taste. And now what they'll smell too? This might be going too far, I thought.

But then I remembered a real wedding we featured in our May/June 2008 issue's 'Wedding Album' section. Jessica is a natural perfumer and really wanted scent to be at the forefront of their wedding. (Along with a bunch of eco-friendly touches-what a cool bride!) So she had her 'flower fairies' (a.k.a. bridesmaids) toss really fragrant petals and had these delicious floral scents everywhere throughout the day.

And just imagine the amazing 'scentscapes' (yes, that's a word people are using these days) you could create by burning scented candles or using naturally fragrant elements as part of the decor. Pine and cinnamon for a winter holiday bash. Pumpkin or apple for a fall fete. A spring floral scape, like the one Jessica did. And for a summer celebration, a scent that's wonderfully beachy-like coconut or citrus-that would bring me back to my days on the beach!

Posted by Elena at 10:57 a.m.

Guest Blogger: Isabel, Bridal Guide intern

Yep, Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend

I went to The Diamond Information Center's The Art of Diamonds show with Elena, and while I was there, I was lucky enough to try on some of the jewelry (insert squeal of delight here). Of course, the second I touched a piece-every piece-I fell in love. There was only one small problem: falling in love with diamond jewelry is expensive. So I was pretty excited when I got to interview jewelry expert Susan Eisen, author of Crazy About Jewelry, about how to save money on wedding jewelry-there's no saying I can't use some of these tips myself, even though I'm not a bride!

Here are some of the great tips she shared:

Consider an heirloom. Check and see if your mom or grandmother (or even his mom!) has jewelry she wants to keep in the family-you might end up with a beautiful ring that saves you dough and has sentimental value. Or maybe there's a hand-me-down stone you can have paired with a setting you choose.

Browse estate jewelry. You might stumble across a unique find-with a little history-for a much lower price. All it may need is little polishing and maybe some small repairs (such as retipping prongs or resizing) to make it ready for you to wear.

Try a palladium ring. Palladium, a white metal, is less expensive than gold, and it's rising in popularity with wedding jewelry designers!

Make room to grow. Can't afford your ideal diamond size? Ask for a setting that can easily hold a bigger rock and plan to add on at a future milestone anniversary.

And of course, be sure to ask about sales and financing options when you are looking at rings. Often, you can get a plan that lets you pay off your ring over a period of time with no interest. (Just be sure to read the fine print!)

Hmmm...with tips like these, maybe we can all have our diamonds!

Posted by Isabel at 11:12 a.m.

Schmoozin' with Susan:

Helping Hand

As Bridal Guide's Executive Editor, I'm usually busy helping Editor in Chief Diane Forden get the magazine out on time (and looking bridal-perfect, of course). But so much fascinating stuff crosses my desk that I really must share the bounty with you. For example, I'd love to help all you engaged women attract some especially good wedding-day karma-and it's really a breeze if you make charitable donations in lieu of guest favors. Go to the I Do Foundation page on our website, and also take a peek at a nonprofit foundation I recently learned about called SHARE: Self-Help for Women with Breast or Ovarian Cancer, which provides a free support network, education and advocacy activities for women fighting these awful diseases. Do some good-get good stuff back! Go to sharecancersupport.org to find out how to donate.

Posted by Susan at 11:03 a.m.

Buzz on Over...

...to weddingbee.com and check out my guest post on diamonds! I recently attended an event thrown by The Diamond Information Center and was able to try on some gorgeous rings. It was great! Read the post here.

Posted by Elena at 10:19 a.m.

Color Your World!

Elena recently did a story for the magazine on three hot color pairings for weddings: turquoise & coral, purple & lavender, and black & white. The piece offers a lot of fun ideas for making these hues a part of your big day.

So I noticed that Elena had tons (seriously, tons!) of extra invitations floating around the office. Turns out, a bunch of her favorite stationery designers had sent in invites for consideration for the color scheme story, but only one in each color scheme made the cut-and (according to Elena) it can be hard to choose. So we wanted to share some of the other invitations with you-because they're really beautiful and also because one might not have been right for our story, but it might be right for your wedding. Here they are:

Coral and Turquoise-I like this scheme because it's fresh, outdoorsy (especially beachy) and is a new take on the pink and green pairing:

Clockwise from top: Kenzie Kate (birds), seal-n-send.com (tri-fold), weddingthings.com (hibiscus flowers), Naturally Ever After (horizontal), Cat Seto (vertical)

Purple and Lavender-these have a romantic, botanical, elegant feel. It's a cool idea to pair a lighter shade with a darker one of the same hue.

Clockwise from top: Checkerboard (purple border), One Blossom (bird), Sarah Drake Design (Asian letters), Naturally Ever After (multi-colored flowers), Jean M (ribbon), Naturally Ever After (white flowers), Wedding Paper Divas (grapevine)

Black and White-for a clean, classic, sophisticated invite that still seems modern and chic.

Clockwise from top: Papeterie (lines), Wedding Paper Divas (petals), Gryphon Stationers (gold stamp), Carlson Craft (swirls), Wedding Paper Divas (sparklers), Checkerboard (flowers)

Want to see more of these color schemes? Check out our September/October 2008 issue (on newsstands now) for cakes, favors, flowers and other wedding decor ideas!

Posted by Maggie at 4:40 p.m.

Icing on the Wedding CAKE

I promise this blog isn't about rings. It's actually about this cool new line of products by Inkbox, Lisa Tse's custom graphic design company specializing in very original invitations, just like this one:

Inkbox's CAKE line of products is a collection of bridal party t-shirts, which has recently expanded to include a 'Doggie of the Bride' t-shirt, a 'Miss Bride' zip-up hoodie, and letterpressed note cards. Look how cute this doggie looks sporting the tee!

The letterpressed note cards are blank inside, so you can choose how to use them. They're perfect for asking friends to be in your bridal party, or thanking them for all their help after the wedding.

The new 'Miss Bride' hoodie is perfect to throw on right before you head out to that night on the town with the girls for your bachelorette party.

What I love about this line is how unique the products are. The prints on the tees and the note cards are vintage-inspired and totally original. The t-shirts look nothing like those cheesy ones you'd be embarrassed to wear as a bridesmaid, and each have entertaining phrases printed on them.

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria must agree, because she gave these tees out to her bridal party and even wore the 'Miss Bride' one herself! I love the 'Mr. Right stamp of approval' on the bride's tee-how cute!

Posted by Lisa at 4:07 p.m.

Trend Report: Flowers

Ah, flowers. They're the cherry on top of the delicious ice cream sundae that is your wedding. So I got in touch with Erin Rosenow from Rosenow Floral Design based in San Francisco (doesn't she have the greatest name for a floral designer?), and got to talk shop with her.

Erin shared with me the latest trends in floral arrangements. Here is what she said brides are going ga-ga for (and some photos of Erin's gorgeous work!):

Gone Green
Erin explains that brides are leaning towards, 'Recycled vases and bottles, plants that people can re-plant and organic flowers,' for centerpieces. She also says that 'some brides completely skip flowers, preferring to use all organic leaves.' She's styled entire weddings solely with different types of foliage. Another flower alternative? Fabric. Erin created this chic boutonniere out of pink yarn and green felt:

Multi-Hued Color Schemes
>Wedding color schemes aren't just one or two hues anymore. Brides are mixing it up with three or four different colors. 'My personal favorite: peach, pale pink and yellow,' says Erin. I see a little red in here too:

The Just-Picked Look
'Less manicured arrangements with branches and weedy-looking wildflowers are becoming popular,' says Erin. This creates a more organic, natural look, rather than something that's been meticulously arranged.

Unique Adornments
Heirloom fabrics and pins are adding personal touches with a little history. One arrangement that Erin created was accented with tiny vintage mushroom sculptures from Germany.

Posted by Maggie at 11:23 a.m.

Trend Report: Wedding Bands

Okay, okay, I know I just blogged about rings, but I told you...I'm obsessed! I recently spoke with Osnat Gad, the owner of OGI Ltd. and author of Wedding Rings, and she gave me the latest on wedding band trends-so of course I couldn't resist sharing them with you.

Osnat noted how important it is to brides to find bands that match their engagement rings. But many brides are choosing to wear their engagement rings on their right hands if they can't find a closely matched band. Matching with the groom isn't a huge concern though-most brides opt for diamond wedding bands, while grooms want plain solid bands.

Lately brides are looking for delicate designs and details, choosing diamonds, colored stones, or plain engraved bands. Here are some of OGI's latest trendsetters:

Osnat said that the round brilliant-cut diamond is the most popular choice for wedding bands, while the princess cut holds the number two spot. (Simple but elegant, and oh so sparkly!)

Bands with diamonds and blue sapphire accents, like these, are becoming popular to pair with matching sapphire engagement rings. (I l-o-v-e these. Have I mentioned blue is my favorite color?)

These rings are engraved with oak leaves, signifying loyalty and constancy of friendship (Aww!). Historical wedding rings seen in books and museums are engraved with this design, and lately brides are going back to leaf-motif bands-with or without diamonds.

Osnat said the metal of choice for both brides and grooms' bands is platinum, because of its durability and lasting whiteness. (The whiteness of white gold can change over time.) While platinum and white gold remain the more popular choices, yellow gold is increasing in demand.

I don't know about you, but I love all of these trends. Happy shopping!

Posted by Lisa at 2:40 p.m.

In Good Taste

By now, you all can probably tell that I have a little bit of a sweet tooth (ok, a 'little bit' might be an understatement). That's why I couldn't wait to talk to Renato Poliafito, one of the founders of Baked, an up-and-coming bakery in Brooklyn that is all about how the cake tastes. Yes, a beautiful wedding cake is great, but to me, if it isn't delicious then what's the point?

Renato told me that he and co-founder Matt Lewis like to stick to the basics: classically styled buttercream cakes. This doesn't mean their cakes are boring, though: They offer 22 different flavors, including some funky ones, like 'Oopsy Daisy' (chocolate cake with peanut butter mousse and buttercream), 'Caramel Apple' ('packed with apples' and frosted with sweet caramel buttercream), and 'Aunt Sassy's Pistachio Surprise' (pistachio-flavored white cake with vanilla honey buttercream and toasted pistachios).

So how do you arrive at the perfect flavor? I asked Renato this, and he said that when he holds tastings with engaged couples, he likes to let them sample a selection of his 'greatest hits,' as he calls it, which he brings out in the form of cupcakes.

Renato always starts by giving the bride and groom samples of the basic white cake and chocolate cake. That way, once they taste the more complex flavors, they can better pick up on their subtleties. And Renato gets a good idea of what the couple likes and dislikes from the start.

One of Renato's own favorite cakes for weddings? The 'Lemon Drop.' It's a variation of the classic white cake, layered with lemon curd and topped with lemon buttercream. He says it's a crowd pleaser because it's not overwhelmingly lemony, but it still has a lot of flavor-'I am a chocolate guy, and I love this cake, so that says a lot,' he told me.

Other popular requests include the red velvet cake and the 'Sweet and Salty' (chocolate and salty caramel). Renato also told me that he's been having a lot of requests for dessert tables of cupcakes for weddings.

Baked also offers a 'build your own' option for wedding cakes-if you have your heart set on something like 'Strawberry Shortcake,' it could be pretty easily imitated by building your own cake with buttercream frosting and strawberry filling.

Now how's that for having a cake that tastes as good as it looks?!

Posted by Isabel at 10:47 a.m.

Feel Like a Princess!

I have an obsession. I love to imagine the cut and karat count of my ideal engagement and wedding rings...often. There's nothing wrong with that, right? Okay, so I'm not in a relationship right now and I've sworn off boys once or twice or eight times in the past few months. But that doesn't mean I've sworn off eventually getting proposed to. I have to say I usually go for a timeless look-the princess cut is my fave diamond cut and that's what I envision as being the center stone for my future ring. (That's the sparkly square one that looks like this.)

And apparently I'm not alone in favoring this cut-on the season finale of The Bachelorette, Jesse selected this platinum and diamond Tacori engagement ring for Deanna, and I think I found a new favorite:

The ring's standout princess-cut diamond center stone is accented with more princess diamonds set in platinum. As if that's not enough bling, turn the ring on its side, and you'll find even more diamond accents, which allow light to enter and the princess-cuts to glisten (as they should!). The result is a ring design that's classic without being too plain. (PS: The band comes in both platinum and 18K gold-always a dilemma, but right now I'm in a platinum mood.)

I hope you and my future fiance approve.

Posted by Lisa at 10:40 a.m.

Trend Report: Stationery

Following trends is a big part of covering weddings for Bridal Guide. And recently Sabrina and Eunice from Hello!Lucky, a letterpress stationery design company, were in town for the National Stationery Show. They stopped by the BG office to share some of their latest designs with me-can I just say that these are two of my new favorite people? They are so enthusiastic about what they do, and they're so ultra talented that their invitations really are works of art!

And because the Lucky ladies really are on the forefront of what's hot in wedding stationery, I pumped them for information about the latest trends. Here's what they said their clients are demanding (illustrated by photos of Hello!Lucky invites, of course):

Jonesing for a bit more stationery? Well, I happened to have posted a guest blog at weddingbee.com about my own experience at the National Stationery Show. Check it out here.

Also, keep coming back to Bridal Buzz-we'll be covering more wedding trends in the upcoming week!

Posted by Elena at 5:45 p.m.

The Behind-the-Scenes Scoop

No, I'm not snoozing on the job! My latest post appears on weddingbee.com and it's all about my experience at this year's National Stationery Show. Check it out here!

Posted by Elena at 5:00 p.m.

Budget-Friendly Blooms

New York weddings are expensive enough as it is, so I'm sure Big Apple brides will be thrilled to hear about the new offer that Steven Buckwald, owner of Surroundings Flowers, is making to help you stick to your wedding budget-without giving up on the gorgeous flowers you've been imagining for your wedding. And it's totally easy: Just bring him an estimate from a high-end florist in the area (Steven is NYC-based) and he'll create a floral arrangement for you for 25% off the original quote.

Since Steven has been working with flowers for more than 30 years, he deals directly with growers from all over the world, so he can offer you lower prices than other florists in the area. Because of this great idea, you can save money and stick to your budget-and still have absolutely beautiful centerpieces and bouquets (check out the bouquet he designed-I want one!). Sounds like a win-win situation to me!

Posted by Isabel at 3:46 p.m.

An Inviting Proposition

Weddings are so steeped in tradition that (gasp!) electronic invitations have pretty much been seen as a no no. But, with the advent of sites like Pingg.com, more brides are getting on the evite bandwagon. I checked out the Pinng gallery and it's full of cute invitation designs. One design that really stood out to me had an all white background with an image of a white orchid with spring green text-very simple and elegant. You can have their design team create a custom invitation, or you can upload a picture of you and your fiance for a sweet photo invite! I like it because it gives you all the control (DIY brides will love it), it's fun, and it's also really easy. Another perk: creating an invitation is completely free!

That said, as a guest of a wedding, I still think it's nice-and so special-to go to your mailbox and pull out a pretty envelope (a.k.a. one that doesn't resemble a credit car bill) with a wedding invitation inside. But it might work for an informal shower or engagement party. So I'm wondering, what are your thoughts? Are online invites up and coming or are they a little impersonal?

Posted by Maggie at 5:38 p.m.

Call Me!

I know what it's like to be busy and in contact with tons of people daily. So about a month ago, I had business cards made for myself-and I'm only a student! It's such a quick and simple convenience.

So when I heard that many brides are having calling cards made especially for their big days, I knew I had to blog about it. Since being knee-deep in wedding planning is probably more stressful than my life, I'm sure any little time-saver is a huge help. Calling cards are the perfect way to provide all the contact info any vendor could need (all your phone numbers, your wedding date, etc.), without picking up a pen (or forgetting something)-and they can be so cute! C & G Weddings, a wedding consultant company, just came out with a line of Busy Bride Calling Cards that come in seven different colorful designs. My favorite is the one with the light blue font and a cake in the upper left corner:

Each card provides your address, cell and email, as well as your groom's contact information. Instead of cramping your hand jotting down your information for the countless vendors you're working with, hand them a calling card and feel a little more stress-free.

Posted by Lisa at 2:33 p.m.

Looks Good Enough to Eat

If you're like me, you love (and I do mean L-O-V-E) sweets. Whether it's chocolates, cookies, candy or anything else yummy, I will devour it. Which is why I'm digging Harvard Sweet Boutique-these folks take colorful, fun, avant-garde boxes and fill them with delicious homemade goodies such as mini-brownies, mini-cookies or truffles. Then they arrange them as table centerpieces for engagement parties and bridal showers!

I think these are really fun because the boxes are adorable and colorful, and they're a good alternative for flowers, which can get pricey. Also, HSB will customize the box color or make any kind of cookies you want! (I'd personally choose the cinnamon-sugar snickerdoodle.) The boxes range from $8-$12, which, when you consider includes favors and centerpieces, is pretty...well...sweet.

Posted by Maggie at 12:36 p.m.

Say Hello to...

Hello! My name is Maggie and I'm one of the editorial interns here at Bridal Guide. When I was two years old my grandmother decided that I was destined to be a professional model. (Yes, at two.) When I was five, I did a wedding photo shoot in Central Park where I modeled as the flower girl, and it was such an elaborate shoot I was convinced it was a real wedding for someone I didn't know. It was so over-the-top, intricate and fabulous that it made me fall in love with weddings at a young age. Although the modeling/acting did not stick (I 'retired' after six years), a few things did: My love for Manhattan, fashion and weddings. Since then I've been a flower girl in four real-life events, and next June I will make my bridesmaid debut in one of my best friend's weddings. She's glad I'm working here-I can give her all the inside tips!

Hey! My name is Lisa Bonarrigo, and I'm also interning at Bridal Guide this summer. I can't say I'm a wedding expert, as I've only been to two weddings. However, I can say that I've been planning my wedding in my head since I was about four years old, and had my first crush (marriage seems so simple when you're little). Although the color of the bridesmaids' dresses is continuously changing, I think I've got everything planned, (minus the groom). At the end of May I was in my grandmother's basement with my mom and her sister, going through old clothes of theirs. We came across their wedding gowns, still in wearable condition, and the way I looked at my mom's made her offer it up for my use right away. My great grandmother had meticulously sewn beads and lace onto my mom's custom-fitted dress, and its classic look will never go out of style. The way I felt about that dress confirmed that I was working in the right place.

Posted by Elena at 12:23 p.m.

Saving Receipts, Trees & Your Sanity

After nearly three weeks in the city, I decided to work on my budgeting skills. My bank account was dwindling, and I wanted to see where my money was going. I mean, I had a general idea (Pinkberry is three blocks away from my apartment and DSW is less than two...), but the little expenses were adding up much more quickly than I thought. Shoeboxed seemed like a great way to start my new budgeting plan, and it would also be a great tool for brides who are organizing their weddings: It's a website where you can either scan or mail in your receipts for digital organization.

Once your receipts are up on the site, you can sort them into customizable 'shoebox' categories (mine were food, clothes, beauty/health and miscellaneous, but you could totally use titles like Photographer, Favors, etc.). Then it's ridiculously easy to find old receipts without sorting through piles and piles of paper, and you can keep track of how much you're spending and what you're spending it on with just the click of a mouse. Maybe the 'budgeting' part of the wedding will be the easiest part to handle!

The basic Shoeboxed account is free (it includes do-it-yourself scanning and organizing), or you can upgrade to receipt mail-in for $9.95/month, where they will scan your receipts for you. Shoeboxed will also provide you with an email address for the site, which allows you to have any digital receipts sent directly to your Shoeboxed account instead of your personal email address. And the added bonus in all this? With fewer paper receipts, you're saving trees!

A word of warning, though: I had a tricky time accessing Shoeboxed through Internet Explorer; you might have to use Mozilla Firefox if you want to get these cool organizing tools.

Posted by Isabel at 3:07 p.m.

Glowing Gifts

I take personal recommendations very seriously: a good hair stylist, a fabulous restaurant, whatever it is, if someone I trust says they love it, I'm all over it. So when our sweet and talented junior designer, Morgan, saw a Seda France box on my desk and told me she was jealous-because she loves Seda France-I thought 'What gives? It's just a candle company.'

Turns out, in Morgan's previous life, she worked in retail at a posh boutique in Brooklyn. She told me that the owner was a designer, so everything sold there was expertly chosen, and thus gorgeous. Some of Morgan's favorite things at the store were the Seda France Classic Toile Candles-the best scents according to her: French Tulip, Japanese Quince and Lis Blanc. Not only is the packaging pretty, but the candles last a really long time. At the store, they were burned for over eights hours a day and lasted for several weeks! I had to laugh when Morgan told me she feels weird getting excited about something as trivial as a candle but that customers totally flipped for these candles. So even though they're kind of pricey for a candle ($32), they'd make quality bridesmaids' gifts-maybe in your gal pals' favorite colors.

Oh, and in the box? A sample of a candle from SF's new Bon Chic line in the White Cashmere Blossom scent ($28). It's 100% soy, so it burns without emitting harsh chemicals. And it smells absolutely delish!

Posted by Elena at 4:08 p.m.

Home with Him

I'm ridiculously giddy right now because I'm officially an author! I teamed up with Joselin Linder to write The Good Girl's Guide to Living in Sin, which was released today. I can't wait to go out and search for it at the bookstore up the street!

I know, I know, at first glance the book seems like it doesn't have anything to do with weddings. and yes, it actually is about being unmarried. But most of the engaged women I know live with their fiancés. So I'm not just tootin' my own horn. You might really get some use out of this book.

Joselin and I interviewed a ton of women about their experiences living with their guys and compiled all their stories and advice. on fighting right, decorating your pad, dealing with his folks and lots more. into this book, so I think it's pretty thorough. And kinda funny too. (Because how better to handle having to share your home with a PlayStation, pet iguana and stinky gym shorts than with some laughs?)

If you pick up the book, I hope it helps you while you're doing the unmarried thing. so that the married thing goes that much more smoothly!

Posted by Elena at 9:50 a.m.

Cuckoo for Cacao

All you chocoholic brides-to-be in or around Detroit might want to head over to the Henry Ford Museum in Deerborn, MI, to check out “Chocolate: The Exhibition.” It runs all summer (now through September 7), and it covers all things chocolate. from its origins in the rainforest to America's favorite ways to eat it now. You can learn about chocolate's role throughout history (ancient Aztecs used cacao beans as money in their marketplaces). Also, follow the timeline of chocolate treats. did you know that chocolate chip cookies weren't invented till 1930? And when they were finally invented, it was by accident. How did people survive before that?

From cacao to cocoa butter to Eskimo pies, this exhibition has it all, so it might be a fun way to get inspiration for a creative dessert or a fun favor to give to your guests!

Posted by Isabel at 10:19 a.m.

Strawberry Dreams

I'm a sucker for anything strawberry. It probably goes back to my childhood obsession with the Strawberry Shortcake character, but that's another story. So recently Peep Accessories sent me some little crocheted sachets in the shape-and scent-of chocolate covered strawberries.

Posted by Elena at 3:03 p.m.

Flower Power

I'm so excited about this initiative I just heard about called The Flower Project. It's a creative new collaboration between Great Performances, a catering and event company in NYC, Botanica, a floral design company, and Just Food, a non-profit dedicated to food justice and sustainability. In order to prevent wasting all the flower arrangements that typically get thrown away after a wedding, Botanica designs potted floral centerpieces that are made from locally grown, pesticide-free plants. And Great Performances has started to offer these pieces as an option at some of their events, including weddings.

If a bride chooses to use one of these arrangements (and why wouldn't you? They're beautiful!), they don't go to waste after the reception's end. Instead, they are donated to community gardens and to The Sylvia Center, an educational center located on Katchkie Farm (which is owned by Great Performances and teaches at-risk kids about sustainable agriculture). So the flowers that everyone gushed about at your reception can look just as pretty in a garden somewhere in New York where even more people get to enjoy them. It's a win-win situation.

Great Performances holds weddings in absolutely beautiful venues (their website has a gallery you should definitely look at) where you can choose this sustainable option. But if you're not in the New York area, consider asking your florist to create something similar for your bash. A local community garden might be happy to accept your post-bash wedding flowers. And if you can't find one that is, you can always plant them right in your own backyard.

Posted by Isabel at 10:12 a.m.

Give It a Swirl

I'm Isabel, one of the Editorial Interns working at Bridal Guide this summer. While I'm not married (I'm only 20!), I love anything new, cute, fun or edible (hi, did you SEE the chocolate sculptures Elena wrote about?), so I'm really excited to help tell you about all the great stuff we find. Plus, I was a flower girl once. That counts for something, right?

We recently met with Lisa Krikawa, who designs the rings for Krikawa Jewelry Designs, and we oohed and ahhed over her gorgeous jewelry. What struck us most were the engagement rings that had this totally unique swirling pattern in the metal. Lisa explained that they're made using a technique called “Makumé Gané,” which dates back to 17th century Japan. To make these rings, the artist layers different colors of metal together, and the result is a one-of-a-kind multi-hued pattern. These rings would be perfect for any bride who wants an elegant, yet totally unusual ring.

Krikawa also makes pretty wedding-day jewelry, including bands, lockets and some amazing sculptural pieces to help you turn heads as you walk down the aisle.

Posted by Isabel at 1:17 p.m.

Designer Water-Seriously

First, Isaac for Target. Then Vera for Kohl's. Now, Christian Lacroix for .... bottled water? Yes, indeedy, the fashion guru has designed a special edition bottle for Evian, and I have to admit that it's really pretty, and with that lacy look, very appropriate to have on the table at a wedding. I guess Christian figured that since everyone gets dressed up for a wedding, why not the water too? The 750ml bottles are available at shopevian.com at $118 for a case of 12.

Posted by Elena at 10:50 a.m.

A Berry Good Idea

Your bridesmaids have enough jewelry that other people picked out for them. Think about getting them a gift they literally can use every day, like a cool tech gadget.

Speaking of which, how cute is the pink BlackBerry Pearl 8130? I like this tech gift idea because it's still pretty and girly-definitely not something that could be confused with a groomsmen's gift. It's a little pricey: $99 if you get it with an online discount, $70 mail-in rebate and a two-year customer agreement through Verizon. But this is something she actually will wear-well, carry-again.

Posted by Elena at 10:12 a.m.

The Art of Weddings

If you're a Massachusetts bride, or you're planning a trip to the Beantown area, be sure to stop by Salem's Peabody Essex Museum for its new exhibit, Wedding Bliss, The Marriage of Art and Ceremony. The exhibit explores the customs, beliefs and emotions involved in weddings and features the work of artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall and Jacob Lawrence. To boot, there will be historic and couture gowns, ceremonial items and rare jewelry.

The exhibit kicks off tomorrow with a day of celebrating all things nuptial, which includes a showing of the film Monsoon Wedding, a demonstration from sculptor Brian White, and an inside peek at pros decorating wedding cakes...oh yeah, you get to taste them too. Wedding Bliss runs through September 14; adult admission is $15 for non-members.

Bride with Fan, 1911, Marc Chagall, oil on canvas, 18 x 15 inches, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Pierre and Maria-Gaetana Matisse Collection, 2002 (2002.456.8) © 2007 Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York / ADAGP.

The Wedding, 1948, Jacob Lawrence, Egg tempera on hardboard, 20 x 24 inches (50.8 x 61 cm), restricted gift of Mary P. Hines in memory of her mother, Frances W. Pick, 1993.258, The Art Institute of Chicago © 2007 The Jacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation, Seattle / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. Photograph by Robert Lifson.

Nyrmla's Wedding II, 1985/6, Amrit and Rabindra Singh, poster color, gouache, and gold dust on mount board, 20 x 30 inches, England, India, © The Singh Twins, artists: singhtwins.co.uk.

Vintage White Dress and Veil, 2007, Brian White, shell, metal, paint, other materials, Union, Maine, Dennis Helmar photographer, courtesy of the artist.

Posted by Elena at 5:44 p.m.

Green Gear, Continued

Happy Earth Day! It's appropriately beautiful weather here in New York today-makes me love the planet even more-so I was inspired to give you a few more eco-friendly wedding hints.

One of my favorite jewelry designers to work with, Tina Tang, created this tote, made of 100% organic cotton. Use it to haul around your wedding planning gear, as a reusable shopping bag, or give it to your 'maids as a gift. (It would be perfect paired with Tina's 'ReLeaf' necklace we feature in our May/June issue.) Make a purchase on the website today, and the company will plant a tree.

Attention San Fran brides. The new California Academy of Sciences will be opening in Golden Gate Park September 2008, and it's now accepting reservations for wedding receptions taking place in 2009. Not only will it be a beautiful building when it's finished (it was designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano) but it's being built with a variety of eco-friendly initiatives. This includes a 'living roof' which will reduce storm water runoff and produce energy to help power the building. The coolest part? You can have dinner alongside a colony of African penguins or sip cocktails next to an alligator swamp. Now that's enjoying nature!

The California Academy of Sciences

Another way couples are honoring the great outdoors is to have their ceremonies at their favorite beach, garden, lake, forest or backyard. Especially on warm days, guests at outdoor weddings need to be properly hydrated. Santa Cruz Organic Sparkling Lemonade is not only USDA certified organic, but the company is so eco-friendly its been recognized by the Waste Reduction Awards Program. Most importantly, the lemonade is delish.

Santa Cruz Organic Sparkling Lemonade

Jayda, a letterpress stationery designer, recently went green by printing their invitations on 100% cotton paper with soy-based ink. A perfect marriage of elegance and eco-friendliness.

Letterpress stationery from Jayda

Beaucoup is an online favor resource that has many appearances in Bridal Guide. The site has stocked up on eco-friendly favors, like these Bloemboxes. Each reusable box is filled with a 'ribbon' made of flower seeds. Guests can plant them in their own gardens and watch them bloom.

Celebrate Earth Day by finding a way to give back. For more green wedding ideas, check out Bridal Guide's May/June issue-on newsstands now!

Posted by Elena at 4:06 p.m.

Marrying in Puerto Rico

It's no wonder that destination weddings are so popular. Couples are pretty keen on the idea of flying off to a tropical paradise to wed-and bringing their nearest and dearest with them (or not)! Fortunately, I was able to do some hands-on research on destination nuptials in beautiful Puerto Rico. Yes, my job is tough, but I gotta do what I gotta do to give you the inside scoop.

Puerto Rico is a pretty easy place to travel since US citizens don't need passports, and there are direct flights from all over the East Coast. But what struck me most about PR are all the breathtaking places you can have your ceremony, like these:

Rio Mar Beach Resort has the best beach set-up I saw. Marrying on the sand is more complicated in highly populated areas of PR because the beaches are public, and a permit is necessary. I would recommend this resort for a laid-back couple that wants something casual and is okay with being around swimsuit-clad vacationers while they're in their finery.

Gran Melia Puerto Rico has a few different spots where you can have a gorgeous ceremony. The most popular is the domed 'Wedding Chapel' pictured above. Dinner can also be set up inside the chapel (and by the way, the food gets a thumbs up from me).

One of my favorites is Hacienda Siesta Alegre. It's an impeccably decorated Spanish-style private home and horse farm hidden away in the hills. Perfect if you want a one-of-a-kind event in a secluded place. The ceremony site is a lawn that overlooks the rainforest, and there are so many other spaces you can utilize, including a poolside area (cocktails), terraces (dinner) and Spanish-style courtyard (dancing).

El Conquistador Resort has two great settings for outdoor ceremonies. Casitas Gardens (at left) is an intimate location with an amazing view and a Zen-ish garden (you can see it if you look closely off to the left). The trellises-those huge columns in the photo on the right-is a more grand photo op, if you're going for high impact. What's best about El Conquistador is that it offers fun for guests of all ages: it has its own water park, plus you can take a ferry ride over to its private island or even to nearby St. Thomas.

My other fave is Hotel El Convento. This boutique hotel is a former convent built in1646 located right in Old San Juan. And what a romantic, historic city to be married in, with all that quaint Spanish and French architecture! Restaurants for the rehearsal dinner are within walking distance, and wedding guests will love shopping the boutiques or taking a tour of the nearby forts during their downtime.

Now I just need to find a couple who wants to get married in Puerto Rico and will invite me as their guest. I can't wait to go back!

Posted by Elena at 12:21 p.m.

Green Gear

It never fails. Every time we wrap an issue here at BG, some amazing product, service or idea that would have been perfect to include in a story crops up. The same goes for our May/June 08 issue, which is on newsstands now-it contains an eco-friendly wedding planning guide full of fun green tips.

But since more designers and retailers are going green by the second, I didn't get to mention these guys:

Dawes Design's engagement and wedding rings are made to stack (so you can keep adding on special anniversaries-I love any excuse to add more bling!) and the designs are so gorgeous I had a hard time deciding which ones to display here. DD only uses recycled gold and conflict-free gems and uses eco-friendly production techniques. To me, it's a win, win, win situation.

DIY brides have loved Sam's Club for years, but now the socially conscious bride should check it out, too. Because Fair Trade Certified Flowers are now available at the price club.

What does Fair Trade Certified mean, you ask? Well, they're flowers tagged with the above symbol, which guarantees that the workers have been treated and paid fairly-and that the flowers have been produced without overuse of water and energy and without damaging the habitats of aquatic life. So you can be confident your purchase is doing good. Fair Trade Certified flowers are also available online at samsclub.com, 1800flowers.com and organicbouquet.com.

Heather Moore Jewelry makes adorable personalized gifts to swap with your groom-prices of these special pieces range from $225 to $1,525. And each charm is made with recycled materials.

Wrap gifts for your bridesmaids in gift-wrap from the Julia Rothman Collection by Hello! Lucky. The feminine, vintage-inspired papers are made of 40% post-consumer recycled materials.

Adding eco-friendly ideas to your wedding is easier than you may think-and it doesn't always cost more money. (In fact, some eco-friendly touches save you dough.) Pick up the May/June issue today and find out how! Believe me, there's much more where this came from...

Posted by Elena at 11:02 a.m.

Dreams Come True

My favorite section of the magazine to edit here at Bridal Guide is 'Wedding Album,' the recurring section where we feature real people's beautiful weddings. I just love getting a sneak peek into couple's big days-and letting you readers crib ideas for their flowers, decor and more.

For the same reasons, I am loving the new book Style Your Dream Wedding by Susie Coelho. First, open it up and pull out a quiz booklet that helps you figure out the perfect style for your fete. Then, flip through gorgeous photos from real weddings in each style. Plus, need-to-know info on everything from cakes to dresses to stationery is covered.

So check it out. You'll find pretty couple shots like this one of a bride and groom in the country...

...and get ideas for all the details you're planning, like this red cake with 3D white flowers. Yum.

Do you have a favorite wedding book? Please share it here!

Posted by Elena at 2:48 p.m.

PlayStation for the Ladies

I've barely even touched the PlayStation since my husband and I moved in together, so I was a bit skeptical when the folks at PS told me their two new games-Buzz! The Hollywood Quiz and SingStar 90's-would be great for bachelorette parties. But I decided to try them out anyway.

Buzz! is a quiz show game that covers anything under the sun, from famous people to history to sports. The questions are less Jeopardy and more Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader, but that just encourages more competition for being the first to buzz your buzzer (a special gameshow-like buzzer controller comes with the game). The graphics and characters are a bit cheesy I admit, but it's great fun.

And Singstar 90s, a karaoke game, was awesome because, well, I can't think of any songs I know all the words to except 90s songs (hm, maybe I'm wrong-there are some 80s tunes, too...) So if you're looking for something to do over cocktails at a friend's house on girls' night, or you and your bridesmaids will be hanging out at a hotel suite the night before the wedding, go ahead and steal your fiance's PlayStation!

Posted by Elena at 10:47 a.m.

The Sweetest Thing

I love a great cause. So when I heard about a New York bakery that's making cookies and cupcakes for weddings-all while providing economically disadvantaged teen girls with the skills they'll need to become successful entrepreneurs-I had to spread the news. The Lower Eastside Girls Club, a nonprofit that runs several community-based programs in Lower Manhattan, owns the Sweet Things Bake Shop, where your purchases will benefit inner-city girls of all ages. Its Cookie Academy offers an 8-week course that teaches high school girls the basics of baking and running a small business. Many of these young women have actually gone on to receive culinary degrees from the city's prestigious Institute of Culinary Education.

I was dazzled by the shop's cupcake tiers (you can choose from two elegant designs or create your own style)-a wonderful alternative to your wedding cake or centerpiece for your dessert table. The hand-decorated butter cookies are a popular choice for bridal shower and wedding favors, and bulk orders of their organic chocolate bars can include custom labels. I may not be getting married anytime soon (unless I meet my soul mate-today), but I'll definitely keep these goodies in mind for special occasions and, of course, the occasional treat.

And a Fond Farewell...
On a separate note, I just want to let all of you loyal Bridalguide.com brides (and grooms!) know that this will be my very last blog for the website, since I'm leaving my post as the magazine's associate editor. Boo hoo! It's been so much fun seeking out and sharing some of the latest bridal buzz with everyone. Alas, all good things must come to an end. But just like you, I'll still be reading the fabulous anecdotes from Elena and the rest of the BG bloggers. Here, my parting words: So long, farewell...and happy planning!

Posted by Valerie at 5:38 p.m.

Breathe Easy

Here's the honest truth: There will be days during this whole wedding-planning process when you'll need to find ways to regain your sanity. So before you become a dreaded Bridezilla, read on.

Delegate! You can't do it alone, so get your groom and your bridesmaids on board to help you make calls, run errands, whatever! To make assigning duties a cinch, check out the handy notebooks from Whomi's To Do Collection. The What to Do Pad ($15) will keep your lists contained in a single book and organized by color and task. Choose between Shop/Call/Do and Buy/Contact/Do. (The company also has a clever Me/You/You Too Pad-especially great for the future hubby.) Just write up your to-dos, rip out the appropriate pages to pass along to your helpers and then move on to the next task at hand.

When you simply need to chill out-de-stress with some massage and aromatherapy that you can do anywhere. T Spheres (T for tranquility) are an awesome new product for Zen-seekers. The massage balls (there's a marble-size version for your hands and feet and palm-size version for your entire body) are made of organic rubber and infused with essential oils. Relieve tension by rolling one between your hands, under your foot or across other hot spots like along your neck and shoulders.

I received samples of the T Spheres made exclusively for Origins (available in retail stores only). 'No Worries' is a mix of basil, rose geranium, eucalyptus and peppermint and 'Peaceful Moments' is scented with lavender-I tried this one out. Hint: The massage technique takes some getting used to (the ball kept popping out of my hands), but you'll get the hang of it with practice. And the scents definitely do their job. I left a couple sitting on my desk, and the whiffs of lavender I got as I typed away were seriously calming. The balls start at $22 for a set of two and include an atomizer filled with the essential oils to refresh the products.

Posted by Valerie at 12:36 p.m.

Couture Cookies

Ever been completely wowed by a cookie-even before you've taken a bite? Well, I just have to rave about the g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s hand-painted sugar cookies from The Whimsical Whisk, an Indianapolis-based patisserie helmed by pastry chef Clare Welage. They come in a wide variety of, yes, whimsical shapes (the vibrant floral-print purses, shoes and gowns are bridal-shower perfect!), and the detail in the 3-D designs (think sugar pearls and iridescent touches) make them almost too pretty to eat. But believe me, you'll want to. These confections are made with real butter, cane sugar, flour and whole eggs (yet no trans fats)-so they taste as divine as they look. The cookies are available in vanilla, lemon cream, coconut or almond, and there's a two-dozen minimum for orders; wedding designs start at $3.75 each.

Posted by Valerie at 11:19 a.m.

Getting Personal

We all know it's the little things that make a big-and lasting-impression. That's why taking the time to personalize as many elements of your big day as you can is such a fantastic idea. To help inspire you, I've rounded up a few great customizable products that you can use to make some of your wedding details that much more special.

OK, let's start with your stationery-specifically, the envelopes. Love and Wedding Hearts stamps are great, but adding your own image to the postage is even better. Think of the possibilities. You could use a great vacation shot of you and your beloved or your 'official' engagement photo. PictureItPostage lets you upload your favorite pic, logo or illustration, and then use its software program to choose between a portrait or landscape format and add your names or wedding date. The stamps are printed on sheets of 10 and cost $17.95 for an order of 20 (discounts are offered on bulk orders). Just remember: On May 12, the U.S. Postal Service will bump the first-class postage rate to $0.42. You'll be able to order the new stamps from PictureItPostage-at the current price-starting March 31 up until the new rate takes effect. Afterward, the price will be $18.95 for 20 custom stamps.

For a no-hassle way to personalize guest favors, bridal party gifts and/or welcome baskets, Card Stix gift tags are a fun option. The 4" x 5" peel-and-stick labels with your special message can be attached to gift bags, medium-size favor boxes, wine bottles or just about anything else you can think of. There are three super-cute wedding designs and 15 colors to choose from. Prices start at $12 for 12 stickers.

Finally, I was intrigued by one unique gift idea: Monogrammed wooden clothes hangers. The Great American Hanger Company has gorgeous products in a variety of styles and finishes, such as natural, bamboo, cedar, walnut, cherry and-ooh, my favorite-rich espresso. They're available in bundles of 6, 12, 24, 25 and 50. Elisabeth Hasselbeck of The View actually gave a set of the company's monogrammed hangers to a friend as a wedding shower gift. But these would make just as great bridesmaids' presents. Your gals would no doubt appreciate the oh-so-personal touch!

Posted by Valerie at 4:53 p.m.

Good Enough to Eat

You've heard of ice sculptures at weddings, right? What if you had a beautiful piece of art that was ...(wait for it)... edible? (Other than the wedding cake, of course.) Well, there are some designers doing really cool things with food.

Check out Vincent Pilon, the Executive Pasty Chef at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. He's creating sculptures out of one of my favorite things-chocolate-for the Food Network, for celebs like Celine Dion and even for upscale weddings. I wonder who gets to eat it when the reception's over?

That said, Sarah Kaufmann's sculptures have also appeared on the Food Network, but they're carved from a more savory substance-cheese! (Also one of my fave foods, but I'm not sure I'd want to nibble on it after it's been sitting out the entire reception.) Sarah-'The Cheese Lady'-has sculpted everything from a violin to a 120-pound Mickey Mouse. Personally, I like the bowl of fruit featured in the cheese ad below.

What do you think of edible sculptures? Would you order one for your big day?

Posted by Elena at 9:44 a.m.

Indian Wedding Tips

I have a soft spot in my heart for Indian weddings-the vibrant colors, the gorgeous henna painted hands, the intricate gold jewelry and the age-old traditions. How could you not love a wedding that lasts for days on end? There are more and more photos of Indian weddings that cross my desk each day, so I know they're popular. (I choose the real weddings to feature in Bridal Guide's 'Wedding Album' section, so I get a sneak peek at a lot of celebrations.)
I was lucky enough to get some insider secrets on planning an Indian bash from Sneh Mehtani-and her son Shaun-of The Mehtani Group, which has been planning these celebrations throughout New Jersey for over a decade. Here's what they advise:

Plan pre-wedding festivities.
Sometimes the Mehndi (henna party) and Sangeet (rehearsal dinner with 'lots of drinking and singing,' according to Mehtani) can be the most memorable and fun parts of the wedding.

Decorate in red.
'Red is traditionally the color of matrimony in Indian weddings, so try to use reds in your theme,' says Mehtani. 'Gold creates a great compliment to red and will create an elegant feel.'

Use Indian flavors.
'Spice plays a big role in Indian food,' says Mehtani. 'Incorporate that into mixed beverages by serving Mango Lassi Bellinis and Grilled Pineapple & Cracked Pepper Martinis.'

Grilled Pineapple & Cracked Pepper Martini (as served by The Mehtani Group)
a stunning mix of freshly grilled succulent pineapple muddled with lemon juice and chamomile syrup, then aggressively shaken with peppercorn-infused belvedere vodka - served straight up

Embrace tradition.
For the groom's entrance, go ahead and rent a horse so he can ride in. 'Horses are readily available for children's parties,' says Mehtani, so one shouldn't be too hard to find. Also, asking your bridesmaids in saris instead of typical bridesmaids gowns will add tradition and beauty.

Check out these photos from weddings The Mehtani Group has planned:

Are you planning a cultural celebration? Are you going traditional, or giving the bash a modern spin? Tell us about it!

Posted by Elena at 10:01 a.m.

Love Songs Say So Much

OK, I admit it: I'm a sap. I love cheesy romantic comedies like Sleepless in Seattle and other so-called chick flicks-I completely lost it after watching The Notebook, and don't even get me started on Atonement. (Thank goodness for dark movie theaters!) So, naturally, I'm a sucker for great, heartfelt love songs-from soulful classics to today's angst-ridden melodies. If you're like me, you'll be just as excited to hear about the newest CD compilations from Legacy Recordings (a division of Sony BMG Music Entertainment), released as part of its Beautiful Ballads & Love Songs series. The five new volumes feature, respectively, the music of jazz great Miles Davis, 'Queen of Soul' Aretha Franklin, chanteuse Billie Holiday, beloved showman Barry Manilow and 'Ol' Blue Eyes,' himself, Frank Sinatra.

If you're looking for a timeless first-dance song or want to play tunes at your reception that guests of all ages can sway to, you're bound to find some gems in these collections. My favorites include Franklin's 'Never Leave You Again,' produced by Sean 'Diddy' Combs, and Holiday's bluesy 'More Than You Know.' Other songs you might want to add to your playlist: Manilow's 'Can't Take My Eyes Off You' and Sinatra's version of George and Ira Gerwin's 'Someone to Watch Over Me.' (One or more of Miles' instrumental ballads, such as 'I Thought About You,' could play as the prelude to your ceremony or during the cocktail hour.) Or, hey, pack some of these super-romantic selections for your honeymoon-and let your happily ever after begin. Tell us, what are your top love songs?

Posted by Valerie at 9:52 a.m.

Things Personalized

I admit it, I grew up in the 'burbs and hung out at shopping malls, so I've long known Things Remembered, the store full of personalized gifts like lockets, money clips and picture frames. (In fact, TR has been around for 40 years, and there are 600 locations across the country.) Well, I met with some folks from TR the other day, and they told me something I didn't know-that you can bring most anything into the store, and they'll engrave it.

An idea I love is having champagne bottles engraved. Yes, whatever phrasing you want can be etched right into the glass. You could give a pricey bottle to Mom and Dad or your wedding party members as a thank you gift. Wine splits for guest gift bags or favors would be really fun, too.

These days, personalization is important to brides and grooms. It's one way to make the wedding feel unique-and to pull all the elements together. How are you personalizing your wedding day?

Posted by Elena at 7:01 p.m.

Drink Pink

Last weekend I went on a girls' trip to Atlantic City. It reminded me of so many bachelorette parties I've been to. When the other gals and I arrived at the hotel, we were all wishing we'd brought along something to sip while we got ready for our night on the town. Next time, I definitely want to throw a bottle of spirits in my overnight bag. Something very festive and girly.

Like these new pink vodkas that have cropped up. It's like everyone realized at the same time that women love libations and we deserve something totally feminine for events like bachelorette parties and bridal showers. Here are three to try:

Pinky
The look: this bottle has the feel of a vintage perfume flacon.
The taste: a mix of violet, rose, strawberry, mango, citrus-and even green pepper.
How to drink it: on the rocks or in a cocktail. Mix it with cranberry juice, two squeezes of lime and a splash of simple syrup for a sophisticated cosmo.
Celeb fans: Eva Longoria, Beyonce, Rebecca Romijn and Selma Blair.

Nuvo
The look: inspired by a lipstick tube and feminine curves. I like the floral design on the neck.
The taste: vodka mixed with sparkling Chardonnay and Pinot Noir-yes, it's bubbly!-and blended with fruit nectar.
How to drink it: chilled in a champagne flute.
Celeb fans: Mena Suvari, Brooke Shields and Kim Kardashian.

p.i.n.k.
The look: just the bottle's pink! The vodka inside is clear.
The taste: plain vodka flavor, infused with flavorless caffeine and guarana for energy.
How to drink it: however you'd have any normal vodka. No Red Bull necessary.
Celeb fans: Demi Moore, Sophia Bush, Pamela Anderson and Beyonce (again? she must love pink vodkas!).

Yes, next time, pink vodka it is! And next time, hopefully I'll win some money at the casino. What libations are you serving at your shower/bachelorette bash?

Posted by Elena at 9:55 a.m.

An Elegant Affair

Elena and I recently braved a soggy day in the city to attend what turned out to be a fabulous press luncheon at The Players, a private club for stage actors and literary greats that's located in a Manhattan townhouse-the ideal setting for brides hoping to channel a classic New York sort of vibe (think gorgeous Greek Revival architecture, damask textiles and walls covered with life-size portraits of noted club members, including founder Edwin Booth and Mark Twain).

The event was a showcase of mostly wedding experts, so we got a chance to meet Andrea Correale, president of Elegant Affairs (The Players' exclusive catering team), and mingle with the creative talents behind Harriette Rose Katz Events/Gourmet Advisory Services and Bentley Meeker Lighting & Staging. Also on hand were reps for DwellStudio and DwellStudio for Target (their mod designs would make great additions to your registry) and the co-owners of fitness studio Station NYC, which offers a Brides To Be (and Grooms too!) package.

The food, courtesy of Elegant Affairs, took center stage-and it certainly deserved the spotlight. Passed hors d'oeuvres included a cornucopia of tuna tartare with wasabi creme fraiche (had to be my favorite), sauteed sesame Thai chicken, potato and leek soup served in a sake cup (which Elena gave two thumbs up), and gorgeously presented tomato and mozzarella bites on a mini fork. One station featured breaded potatoes molded into perfect pears (such a cool idea!). Elsewhere, we sampled delectable Pacific Rim skirt steak with asparagus spears, kataifi-wrapped shrimp atop a roasted beet risotto cake, and two mini sandwiches (a lobster and brioche club and a duck BLT), both served with a frisee salad. On our way out (alas, deadlines called), we nearly missed the chocolate heart-shaped cookie lollipops. Sure, I'd probably had my fill. But in my book, there's always room for a sweet treat.

Posted by Valerie at 12:01 p.m.

Here Comes the Bride

Cue the Wedding March. Get ready for your nearest and dearest to rise from their seats-with all eyes on you. You, with your perfectly coifed hair and expertly applied makeup and wearing the dazzling wedding gown you searched high and low for. And standing at the altar: your darling groom-the person who's the most anxious of all to see your grand entrance. This is your big moment and you'll be positively glowing! So why not roll out the red carpet-glitterati style-for your walk down the aisle? The Original Runner Company offers a gorgeous array of fabric, non-slip runners that'll do just the trick. Choose from 17 solid colors to coordinate with the ceremony decor or a number of patterned styles (walk on rose petals or colorful autumn leaves without the mess!). If you want something a bit more personalized, the company also creates custom designs (think hand beading, borders, 3-D effects, monograms and love quotes). Prices start at $135 for a 25-foot-long runner that's 44 inches wide. Go ahead, make it a walk to remember!

Posted by Valerie at 11:26 a.m.

Best Wishes

More than one bride has told me that they think traditional guest books are boring. And I've seen everything from photo mattes to platters guests can sign. If you're looking for more than just your loved ones' John Hancocks preserved forever, try the 'wishing well' trend, where guests can write little notes with their best wishes for you and your guy and then pop them into a pretty jar, hang them as ornaments on a tree (they should be prettily shaped) or even use nice push pins to hang them on a silk-covered corkboard.

Another idea is the wishing well created by Zinke Design, which recently showed up on my desk. It's a nice, fabric-covered memory box with a place to put a photo of you and your fiance on the cover. Inside is a pen and note cards for guests' messages. You could even give family and friends inspiration for their well wishes. For example, place a sign nearby that says, 'What's your favorite memory of Nancy or Ken-or both? Please write it here for the bride and groom to read together and to reminisce for years to come.'

Do you have a great idea for a guest book-or guest book alternative? Please tell us about it!

Posted by Elena at 11:14 a.m.

Giving Thanks

You're getting married. This is your chance to be formal. One way to do this? Send your bridal party, Mom, Dad-anyone who helped you through wedding planning-a note of thanks and love on the morning of the big day.

I couldn't help but notice the collection of adorable wedding party cards from Tallu-lah. The letterpress cards have the charm and simplicity of a bygone era-perfect for a formal feel. And you'll earn anti-bridezilla points by making it a point to thank your nearest and dearest. They're available at etsy.com.

Have more ideas for thanking your wedding VIPs? Share them with us.

Posted by Elena at 11:27 a.m.

Say Goodbye to Planning Jitters

New York-based party planner Lindsay Landman of Lindsay Landman Events knows a thing or two about creating a dazzling wedding-and how overwhelming it all can seem. She and her talented design team have nearly 10 years of experience and hundreds of spectacular events under their belt. (The wedding pro has even lent her expertise to The Style Network's Whose Wedding Is It Anyway?) Here, Lindsay offers the first five steps any newly engaged-and slightly anxiety-riddled-bride should take.

1. Enjoy the moment! 'Be sure to bask in the engagement euphoria before tackling your wedding plans right away,' suggests Lindsay. After all, this is a once-in-a-lifetime period of celebration for you and your hubby-to-be.
2. Make a list. What are your wedding priorities? 'Knowing what you want most will give you keys to what you should spend the most on and what you should select first in the planning process,' she says.
3. Determine your budget. That way, you can avoid overspending. A budget also lets you allocate dollars to specific elements of the wedding, and then easily redistribute the money as needed down the line.
4. Decide whom to invite. Creating a guest list early on will make choosing a venue that will accommodate everyone that much simpler-and it'll keep your budget in check.
5. Manage your time well. 'Allow yourself enough time for each aspect of planning so you are not harried in the end,' she warns. Keep work and social schedules in mind when booking vendor appointments. And try not to do everything all at once. Then you can just focus on the joy and excitement leading up to your big day!

What aspect of planning your wedding has got you frazzled? Tell us in Comments.

A sample of weddings coordinated/designed by Lindsay Landman Events.

Posted by Valerie at 11:07 a.m.

Something blue-and bubbly

The other day I received samples of the new Martini & Rossi Asti single-serve bottles of sparkling white wine (yeah, I know, tough job), so being a diligent editor, I immediately placed-or squeezed them, rather-into our office fridge. When the time came for the taste-test (um, later that day), I wasn't disappointed. The wine, made with 100 percent Italian Muscat grapes, was aromatic, sweet and so refreshing. (My colleague Elena and our 22-year-old intern, Carie, also gave their thumbs up.)

You can serve these sparklers in champagne flutes (or simply as is, with a beverage straw-the metallic-blue bottles are certainly stylish enough) during your cocktail hour or with your wedding cake, since they pair well with desserts. And, of course, the wines can be used to create a delicious signature drink. Give these recipes a whirl:

Blushing Bride
1 part pink lemonade
1 part Martini & Rossi Asti sparkling wine
grenadine

Pour pink lemonade and sparkling wine into a champagne glass and top with grenadine.

The Bride's Something Blue
1/2 part DISARONNO Originale liqueur
1/2 part blue curacao
Martini & Rossi Asti sparkling wine

Pour liqueur and blue curacao into a champagne glass and top with chilled sparkling wine. Garnish with a lemon twist.

The Ever After Asti Kir
1 part creme de cassis
4 parts Martini & Rossi Asti

Pour creme de cassis into a 6-ounce champagne flute and top with chilled sparkling wine.

Posted by Valerie at 10:12 a.m.

'Wood' You Be My Valentine?

Obviously, we're really into paper products here at Bridal Guide. But we're also really into love. Which makes this week one of our faves. (I know you're looking forward to a romantic v-day with your sweetie!)

If you're searching for a really unique valentine to give your fiance, try these perfectly whimsical wooden cards by Night Owl Paper Goods. Not only are they too sweet for words, but they're also made from eco-friendly sustainably harvested yellow birch. That means they fit the criteria of something else we've been really into lately: green products. (In fact, Bridal Guide's May/June 2008 issue, which will hit newsstands around March 18 contains a whole guide to planning green weddings!)

You can order the eco-friendly wooden cards online, but I'm not sure you'll get them in time for Valentine's Day. If you're in the New York City area, try Greenwich Letterpress on Christopher Street. If not, the folks at Night Owl Paper Goods invite you to email them for store information and say they'll respond quickly!

Posted by Elena at 10:57 a.m.

Stamp of Approval

I am not a do-it-yourselfer. But if I were, I'd be going nuts for these self-inking stamps by Three Designing Women. First, you create your own custom stamp design-something you'll want to carry through your entire wedding. Then, stamp in hand, you can DIY to your heart's content: Stamp your invitations, save-the-dates, out-of-towner gift bags, favor tags, thank you notes and whatever else you dream up (Three Designing Women has even created paper products to help you do this). It will give you the look of custom stationery in every nook and cranny of the wedding without excessive printing costs. What better way to put your personal stamp-literally-on the big day?

Posted by Elena at 1:21 p.m.

Poetic License

With Valentine's Day fast approaching, it's the perfect time to think of wonderful tokens of love you can give your partner for life-on this super-romantic occasion or as a wedding present. And I've got just the thing. The latest and greatest item to come across my desk is Love Poems by Pablo Neruda (he's the Nobel Prize-winning Chilean writer who-now literally-wrote the book on love). This just-released pocket-sized edition, translated by Donald D. Walsh, is filled with some of the poet's most passionate, sensually charged words-written in both Spanish and English. Here's a taste:

My love,
we have found each other
thirsty and we have
drunk up all the water and the blood,
we found each other
hungry
and we bit each other
as fire bites,
leaving wounds in us.
-Excerpt from Absence by Pablo Neruda

If that doesn't get you in the mood for romance, then, um, you might have to check your pulse. Before presenting to your beloved, don't forget to write a little something special on the inside cover-an oh-so-sentimental touch!

Are you giving your fiance a wedding gift? If so, please share it with us!

Posted by Valerie at 11:53 a.m.

Take Shelter

I still think the most important part of the wedding is the ceremony. Don't forget to make the place where you're saying 'I do' beautiful.

Chuppahs have long been used by couples of Jewish faith. The canopies create a special place for the couple to wed-no matter where you're marrying-and they symbolize the new home the bride and groom will create together. And the best part is, you don't have to be Jewish to use one.

I love the chuppahs designed by Couture Canopies. They're hand painted by artist Jody Soloshatz on luxe silk charmeuse, and Jody works with couples to customize the colors and motifs. She's done pretty cherry blossom branches (below), shells and coral for a beach wedding, and a sky at sunset. Gorgeous!

Have any other ceremony decor ideas? Share them with us.

Posted by Elena at 7:01 p.m.

Say It With Words

For all you brides looking for a special way to ask your closest gal pals to be in your wedding party, think back to old-school forms of communication and pop an oh-so-personal note card in the mail. Jenny Sweeney Designs just unveiled their spring 2008 bridal collection and I'm head-over-heels in love with them. The whimsical floral designs, which are beautifully hand glittered and printed on iridescent paper, were inspired by beloved childhood memories. Included in the bunch are cards that read 'Will you be my maid/matron of honor?', 'Will you be my bridesmaid?' and 'Will you be my flower girl?' If you've already gathered your ladies, then choose from the collection's 'Thank you' cards-the perfect complements to your bridal-party gifts. Check the website's store locator for a local retailer. Or if you happen to live near Libertyville, Illinois, stop into the newly remodeled JSD store at 627 North Second Street. Here, the cards sell for $5.90 each-but the expressions on your girlfriends' faces when they open these beauties will be priceless.

Posted by Valerie at 11:27 a.m.

Winning Websites

Every engaged couple I know seems to have a wedding website. Even the stationery companies are starting to recognize this by leaving room on the save-the-dates especially for your URL. Unfortunately, all the wedding websites I've seen look the same-created using the same templates by the same providers. Enter Daphne & Clio, a site that sells prints of four modern artists' works-and now offers wedding website templates that feature their colorful graphics (not some lame photo of blooming roses!). Daphne & Clio offers the same features you'll find at most wedding website hosts, including online editing, photo galleries, unlimited pages, podcasting support, advanced RSVP forms, blogs and discussion forums, but they're so much cuter! You can try it for free for 30 days, then pay a rate starting at $7 a month after that.

Already have a wedding site? How did you make it unique?

Posted by Elena at 10:16 a.m.

Have your cake and eat it, too

I recently met with the talented ladies behind How Sweet It Is, a new bake shop in New York City, and can't say enough wonderful things about them. Not only are pastry chefs Ellen Sternau and Beth Pilar passionate about cakes and pastries (and super sweet, themselves), they're already attracting a celebrity clientele, including crooner John Mayer (they designed an Art Deco-inspired masterpiece for his 30th birthday party). Their creations are completely custom-so whether you're craving a classic floral cake or something a bit funkier, you've got it. As for the most requested cake flavor? Red velvet. Seems this Southern tradition has finally gone mainstream. You'll also love their cookies, cupcake towers, Parisian macaroons and one-bite treats (perfect for a bridal shower or wedding favor or your reception's dessert table). I highly recommend the chocolate cherry-and-pistachio biscotti, bananas foster, chocolate and caramel sea salt tarts, and goat cheesecake atop a 'nest' of kataifi. How sweet they are, indeed!

A variety of sweet treats: (from left) chocolate cherry-and-pistachio biscotti, bananas foster, chocolate and caramel sea salt tarts, and goat cheesecake atop a 'nest' of kataifi.

Design your own bridesmaid gown-no, really!

Finding a dress that flatters each of your maids can be a challenge. We all know specific styles may only suit certain body types. What to do? One solution is to check out Coco Myles, a new online boutique that literally lets you create a dress from scratch. Choose from a huge selection of tops and skirts (halters, scoop necks, A-lines, you name it) and color palettes. Available fabrics are satin, charmeuse and georgette. Want to add beading, a sash or a shawl? No problem. There's even a 'Celebrity Inspired' collection for those fashionistas looking for a bit of red-carpet flair. Once your order is complete, dresses are shipped in about six weeks. Not bad, eh? Trust me, your girls will love how interactive the site is-not to mention the price tag. Custom dresses start at just $125.

Posted by Valerie at 10:06 a.m.

Give a Little Bit

Charitable gestures are always welcome-especially around the holidays. But when you include them in a day as important as your wedding, the impact really is that much greater. That's why I have to tell you about two newly launched programs from two extremely worthy causes. The first comes from the World Wildlife Fund, the largest conservation agency in the world, which is dedicated to protecting endangered species and promoting sustainable practices and energy efficiency. The World Wildlife Fund Weddings and Celebrations Site and Registry is ideal for couples who want to give their guests the option of donating to WWF's conservation programs in lieu of giving traditional wedding gifts. You'll simply create a personalized web page with a link to the gift registry site. Or, make a donation to WWF on behalf of your guests as a wedding favor (you can print elegant announcement cards to display on reception tables). Favor donations are now also available from The American Institute for Cancer Research. These can be a special way to honor a loved one who succumbed to the disease. Click here to create a personalized table card, scroll or bookmark.

Posted by Valerie at 10:04 a.m.

Fabulous Favors for All

Favors are fun! They're also an excellent way to incorporate your wedding theme and/or colors. Having a garden party? What could be better than to gift your loved ones with these absolutely adorable-yet elegant-handmade ladybug chocolates from Boule, the renowned L.A. patisserie. The best part, of course, is the taste-take it from this self-professed chocolate connoisseur! These delectables are made with dark chocolate and melt-in-your-mouth vanilla-and-pineapple ganache. For favors of the non-edible variety, check out the new line from wedding expert Sharon Naylor (she has more than 30 wedding books under her belt!), available online. I loved the Seashells scented gel candle, filled with real shells and starfish, for a beach wedding and the gorgeous glass olive oil bottle for an event with Tuscan flavor. And the price is right. Candles start at $2.25 each for 96 or more; and the olive oil, from $2.75 for 96 or more. Quite favorable!

Posted by Valerie at 1:11 p.m.