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

It's time for Crate and Barrel's Wedding Parties! For a full two hours, the store is yours. Great food, good music, fabulous drinks and loads of advice on putting together the perfect gift registry. You'll also be greeted with a free gift. RSVP today and have fun!

Over the last couple of weeks, I've been shown lots of  "LUV" from my fellow bloggers; three times to be exact (from Landra of EVENTistas , Brandi of Glitz and Glamour Events and Lisa of Elite Affairs ). So now I'm supposed to share the love, but I'm pretty sure all of my favorite bloggers have been tagged a few times already, so I'll forego that part just this once. But thanks so much ladies!  It's a pleasure sharing the blogosphere with you.

Triple-number wedding dates have been an interesting trend for the last 6 years or so. July 7, 2007 (7-7-07) was probably the most popular, and then of course August 8, 2008 ( 8-8-08 ) was not only the day the Chinese launched the Olympic games but the day chosen by thousands of engaged couples because the phrase “I Love You” has exactly 8 letters and the number "8" turned on it's side illustrates the symbol for "infinity." So what about September 9, 2009? Let's explore the pros and cons of 9-9-09: PROS Wikipedia says: "The number 9, being the greatest of single-digit numbers, was historically associated with the Emperor of China; the Emperor's robes often had nine dragons, and Chinese mythology held that the dragon has nine children. Moreover, the number 9 (jiu) sounds like the word for "longlasting", and as such is often used in weddings. Several wedding planners and hotels (such as Mandalay Bay, Las Vegas ) ...

Dear Rashana , I have two questions regarding wedding invitation wording and etiquette.   First, we're having a farewell brunch the morning after the wedding. I was wondering if it is considered either acceptable or tacky to include a coordinating invitation for the brunch with the wedding invitation, and then leaving a spot on the RSVP card to indicate attendance at the brunch.   Second, I'm having trouble figuring out how to word the "host line" of the invitation. The wedding will be hosted by my parents, the groom and myself. I've seen "Together with their families..." and "Together with their parents..." but since only my parents are helping us, how do I give them proper recognition? Sticky Situations * * * * * * * * * * Dear Sticky Situations , I love post-wedding brunches!  So glad you're having one. While inviting your guests verbally is acceptable, I definitely support including a coordinating card in your invitatio...

Your After "Yes," Before "I Do" & Everything In Between blog archive reminder has arrived! Take a look back at what we were discussing one year ago. Success at the Most Popular New Year's Resolution (awesome online weight loss tool) Summer Preview: They'll All Scream For Ice Cream (make ice cream cone shaped cupcakes) Outside-The-Box (3 offbeat finds for the non-traditional couple) On-Site Venue Coordinators vs. Professional Wedding Planners ( ***check back for an updated post on this topic for 2009*** ) The Best First Dance Ever (just for laughs!) Oh, Martha!   (Martha Stewart's Wedding Cakes book...just exquisite) Help Future Brides...Get A Free Gift Card (sign up for WeddingWire.com) The Best Things Come In Small Packages (5 boxed invitation ideas)

Sunday night, the 66th Annual Golden Globe Awards aired and the red carpet leading into The Beverly Hilton was on fire! There were a variety of "hits" and "misses," but thankfully less of the latter. In my opinion, Eva Mendes stole the show ... as far as fashion was concerned. Glamour was truly in its prime. Here are a few cues from the red carpet for brides: (click on bridal fashions to enlarge) Drew Barrymore (Inspired options for brides from the following collections: Lusan Mandongus, Suzanne Ermann, St. Pucchi) Beyonce Knowles (Inspired options for brides from the following collections: Lazaro, Tara Keely) Olivia Wilde (Inspired options for brides from the following collections: Edgardo Bonilla, St. Pucchi, Carolina Herrera) Evan Rachel Wood (Inspired options for brides from the following collections: Elie Saab for Pronovias, Jenny Lee) Eva Mendes (Inspired options for brides from the following collections: Martina Liana, Tara Keely, Jane Wang) Mega...

CONGRATULATIONS to all newly engaged couples out there, especially those who decided to tie the knot over the holidays.  2008 was an exciting, eventful year for us all for many different reasons.  And we at The Bridal Party are particularly thankful for our growth and accomplishments.  In addition to our daily efforts of ensuring our clients receive the best possible service and that their weddings are spectacular, here's a short recap of the other achievements and activities The Bridal Party participated in throughout the year: JANUARY - We ran our very first newspaper ad in The Star Ledger newspaper. FEBRUARY - We began a lovely partnership with PosePrints, thus our special coupon code "bridalparty" was born (offering all those who use it a well-deserved discount). MARCH/APRIL - We assisted our clients with selecting photographers for their engagement pictures, helped coordinate engagement announcements and visited Lollipop Land .  MAY - We planned and d...