After "YES," Before "I DO" and Everything In Between

It's always exciting to see the latest in extra-ordinary couture for brides. Here are my personal favorites from the Fall 2008 and Spring 2009 runways! Rivini Vera Wang Reem Acra Lazaro Elizabeth Fillmore Angel Sanchez

This is the perfect opportunity for girlfriends everywhere, especially brides and bridesmaids, to get together and have a good time. May 30, 2008 ladies! I absolutely can not wait!!

It's still Spring and in no way am I attempting to hasten the year, but our upcoming holiday season is going to be filled with weddings! I'm working with a couple planning an early November wedding who've chosen to design their event from the foundation of "chocolate" (one of the most elegant staples of wedding color palettes). To complement the deep browns and golds of their color scheme, the bride and groom may elect to infuse Burnt Sienna and perhaps a hint of Merlot. Here's my first inspiration board for this couple's nuptials. CHOCOLATE TWIST Credits (top, left to right): Flower/Twig/Branch Centerpieces atop Chocolate Linens; Staircase Wrapped Fountain at The Venetian, Garfield NJ (photo courtesy of Stephen Tackeff Photography ); Monogram Glass Transfer - Wonderful Graffiti ; Seated Bride w/ Chignon & Crystal Hairpins; Gourmet Caramel Apple Favors - Mrs. Prindables Handmade Confections ;Photo Booth Rental (photo courtesy of Best Wedding NJ ; ...

At first I thought to myself, this post is 100% non-wedding related. However, in so many ways weddings are all about family and since that's what Geni.com is all about, it's sort of relevant. Founded by former executives and early employees of PayPal, Yahoo!, eBay and Tribe, Geni.com is a tool for understanding and staying in touch with your family. It lets you create a family tree via a simple interface and you are able to expand your tree by adding relatives' email addresses. So far, my family tree has grown to include about 542 , whom I am related to either by blood or marriage. It's terrific! If you haven't already, I highly suggest starting your own family tree and inviting as many of your relatives as you can. You are even able to add friends! You'll surely learn a lot about yourself and your ancestry. And brides, this is a perfect way to officially merge your family with your new hubby's family. Have fun!

Just when you thought PosePrints couldn't be any cuter, they now have silhouette cards (examples pictured below). The founders of PosePrints, Denise & Jen (mother/daughter team), offer unique options for all occasions .... save-the-dates, baby shower invitations, thank you cards, etc. And don't forget, there are even options for children's invitations and stationary. Ultra fab! Just don't forget to use our special coupon code " BRIDALPARTY " for 10% OFF your purchase, courtesy of The Bridal Party LLC and the ladies of PosePrints.

My bag generally changes every day or every other day, depending on my mood and my wardrobe. But the contents are usually the same...just transferred from bag to bag as I go along. So, what's in there??? Let's have a look. First and foremost, I can't live without my ThinkPad tablet . It's the thinnest, lightest convertible tablet laptop on the market and I carry it pretty much anywhere. Plus, it knows my handwriting, so instead of accumulating tons of notes on paper I'm easily able to use it's pen, take notes on the screen and file everything on my computer for easy access. I love it! My iPod Nano travels with me everyday as well. It doesn't play video like the newer models, but I'm all about music (which I diligently separate and categorize by genre) so it keeps me happy. Being an event planner could never be a part-time job or hobby, so I carry my brochures and business cards with me at all times. I can't tell you how many times I've gon...

My recent involvement/planning/design of a 50th birthday celebration near and dear to my heart has really exposed my love for paper lanterns. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors and are most commonly used to enhance or anchor Asian themed celebrations. Nevertheless, there is no limit to how or when people can use them, especially to enhance tents. For the special gentleman who's turning 50, I'll be stringing blue and metallic-silver paper lanterns above the outdoor party area and light each with LEDs. Lanterns make it easy to start with any blank canvas and round it all out little by little. Instant ambiance! Here's a little inspiration: WHITE & NEUTRAL COLORFUL & VIBRANT