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

- - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

I'm working with a Washington, D.C. couple planning an early-September wedding who've chosen to incorporate island flair and culture into the design of their event.  My staff and I have been having so much fun brainstorming and compiling ideas, thus this couple has become our Isle to Aisle bride and groom.  So far, we're having visions of bright pink, purple and orange hues ... steel drummers and African percussionists ... frozen specialty drinks & rum punch ... hanging paper lanterns ... crackling fire pits encircled by plush pillows ... walls drenched in color ... message-in-a-bottle escort cards ... hints of black for "POP."  Oh the possibilities! Here's my first inspiration board for this couple's nuptials. ISLE TO AISLE Credits (top, left to right): Mermaid Style Wedding Gown - Henry Roth ; Black-dress Bridesmaid holding bouquet (photo courtesy of TheKnot); Outdoor Courtyard Ceremony Set - Dolce Basking Ridge ; Multi-colored Paper Lan

- - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

One of THE BRIDAL PARTY 's biggest supporters and helpers recently married the love of her life and we are so happy for them both. The bride, Danielle, has been in our corner since 2007 and remains a huge fan of all that we do. Not only has she contributed to many of our efforts in planning/designing outstanding weddings and events, she effortlessly brought an unmatched elegance to her own wedding. The ceremony was held at Saint Edward the Confessor Church in New Fairfield, Connecticut and the reception took place at the Portuguese Cultural Center in Danbury.  Local specialties from Connecticut and Saratoga, New York (where the bride and groom are originally from, respectively) were lovingly incorporated like Saratoga Sparkling Water in all the hotel rooms and Q Products BBQ sauce (an ode to the bride's best friend, who is the founder).  And you'll notice from the photographs the wedding was a beautiful success and every guests had a ball!  Favors were bottles of wi

Truvy: What are your colors, Shelby? Shelby: My colors are "blush" and "bashful." M'Lynn: Her colors are "pink" and pink." Shelby: My colors are "blush" and "bashful" Mama! M'Lynn: How pretentious is this weddin' gonna get, I ask you? The red carpet of the 68th Annual Golden Globe Awards was quite colorful this year, but it seems PINK reigned supreme.  So, as the character Shelby did from the play/movie "Steel Magnolias," could brides consider fleeting from traditional white in a big way this year? Check out some of the celebs who blushed along the red carpet: Megan Fox wearing Armani Privé   Leighton Meester wearing Burberry Sandra Bullock wearing Jenny Packham Natalie Portman wearing Viktor & Rolf Now feast your eyes on some gorgeous options for this year's blushing brides : (from designers Alfred Sung, Vera Wang, Palazzo, Lazaro, Leanne Marshall, Tara Atkins, Elio Bberhanyer and En

Dear Rashana, My wedding is scheduled for Summer and everything will take place outdoors underneath a tent.  At first I thought planning an outdoor wedding under a tent instead of an indoor wedding at a reception hall would be easier ... but I found out rather quickly, that isn't the case.  Nevertheless, I'm dedicated to having everything outdoors and have begun the process of securing the tent.  We're inviting 175 guests for a sit-down dinner and I've been told I'll need a 30X60 tent.  Honestly, this seems waaaay too big and the 30X30 is closer to my budget.  Am I being duped or will I really need a tent of a larger size? - Tent Chic Bride * * * * * * * * * * Dear Tent Chic Bride, This is an excellent question!  First, you're right in that planning an outdoor event under a tent instead of an indoor banquet hall affair is not necessarily easier.  After all, for an outdoor/tented event, you must provide and account for EVERYTHING ... every chair, every for

New York's most famous bridal boutique, Kleinfeld, is expecting LOTS of excitement this February!  Mark your calendars, girls ... it's time to snag a few deals. FEBRUARY 1st KLEINFELD BLOW OUT SALE Save up to 70% Off! 3:00 p.m. - Doors close at 7:00 p.m. No appointment necessary - First Come, First Served Gowns starting at $799 Veils & Headpieces starting at $99 Bridal Shoes starting at $19.99 Save up to 70% on select sample bridal gowns, headpieces, veils and accessories from top bridal designers.  Take an additional 25% off already marked down prices. FEBRUARY 21st Presidents' Day Sample Sale (one-hour appointments only) Designers include: Alita Graham, Alvina Valenta, Amalia Carrara, Amarilidine, Amsale, Amy Michelson, Anne Barge, Badgley Mischka, Carolina Herrera, Christos, Claire Pettibone, Edgardo Bonilla, Eve of Milady, Henry Roth, Ian Stuart, Jim Hjelm, Judd Waddell, Justina McCaffrey, Kenneth Pool, Lazaro, Liancarlo, Marisa, Melissa Sweet, Mic

- - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

Virginia wedding planner, Shayna Walker Weddle of Williamsburg Wedding Design is a colleague and mentor in my head (as radio and TV personality Wendy Williams would say).  I follow and admire her blog.  And recently, to my surprise and delight, she posted an awesomely honest article concerning how/why wedding planners determine prices for their services using herself as an example.  This information has long been considered taboo, which is why I love Shayna's article so much and felt compelled to share with you, my readers.  For some strange reason, many brides and grooms actually assume and expect that a wedding planner should only run them $500 for A-to-Z coverage.  Can you say "highway robbery?"  I've even had a few prospective clients tell me about the woman at their church who only charges $300 .  Now, I could easily write several paragraphs about why paying these such prices for wedding planning are big red-flags and that a bride-to-be should never book a

Dear Santa, I trust you're enjoying yourself, winding down and relaxing in Kuau'i after the bustling holiday season we had.  And while reading another letter is likely one of the last things you'd be interested in doing, I just had to get this one in extra early (because it's gonna take some work). You know we at THE BRIDAL PARTY are committed to giving our brides, grooms and clients our utmost attention, our creativity and sincere dedication in ensuring their event is executed flawlessly.  You probably also know most brides are always very concerned about their attire - gown, veil, and of course, shoes.  Thus, many of our brides chose a swanky pair of Christian Louboutin s to walk down the aisle in, and they make sure their photographer gets the perfect photo-journalistic shot of the red-bottoms.  BUT ... what if their Christian Louboutins could be their "something blue?"  That's right, blue-bottoms!  What could be better?  Herein lies my request: Ple

So you've already planned every detail, but on that special day you'd simply like it all to run smoothly without worrying about a thing... Package includes: *Complimentary Consultation Session *1 Site Visit *1 Details Meeting  *On-Site Rehearsal, Ceremony & Reception Direction *Distribution of Final Payments/Gratuities *Unlimited Email & Telephone Communication *Complimentary "Sweets Sideboard" Trust us, peace-of-mind and being able to actually be a guest at your own wedding is worth so much.  Let us handle the last minute details!  Contact us today. (Promotion Expires April 30, 2011) - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

Style Me Pretty has been inspiring brides and wedding planners for years and remains one of the most elite blogs to date.  Honestly, this forum definitely helped me get my creative juices flowing when building the foundation for After YES, Before I Do and Everything in Between .  And just when we all thought it couldn't get any better ... they've unveiled a NEW digital magazine ! Run, don't walk, over to Style Me Pretty and check out '20 of the most swoon-worthy, gush-able, ah-inducing, style-savvy weddings of the year… all together in one pretty package.'  - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

It's a new year, time for innovative ideas, time to leave a few things behind.  And in the case of weddings and events, this also rings true.  For example in 2010, trying too hard and missing the mark when producing green/eco-friendly events got a little "old" ... cupcakes-cupcakes-cupcakes and overly dramatic desert tables, oh my, they have truly run their course ... mermaid-style gowns, glamorous and sexy but hey la hey la - the ballgown's back ! So what are the bridal trends for 2011?   TheKnot.com released their predictions for the top 11 wedding trends for 2011 Tuesday!  Think you'll incorporate any of these fresh ideas into your wedding/event? 1. Prohibition-Era Elegance: So long, Mad Men—the most stylish new show is Boardwalk Empire and brides are noticing. From dusty nudes and lace dresses for the ladies to wing-tip shoes for the men, couples are falling in love with the dapper fashion of the 1920s. And it wouldn’t feel like Prohibition without alc

We shared snapshots of our Vintage Romance wedding a few months ago, but professional photos became available just last night! The ceremony was held at Queen of Peace Church in North Arlington and the reception commenced at the One and Only Westmount Country Club in West Patterson. The event took place on a brisk yet beautiful late-October day and went off without a hitch! Guests absorbed every detail and the simple opulence that seemed to lurk around every corner. From the bagpiper that signaled the bride's entrance to the candlelit ambiance perfectly complemented by bold Autumn hues of eggplant and pistachio to the indoor/outdoor multi-cuisine reception ... to say it was a night to remember is an understatement.   Lush floral centerpieces sat atop antique glass pedestals.  A delicate cymbidium orchid welcomed each guest to his/her seat.  The reception ballroom walls were heavily drenched in purple light and a live swing band jammed the night away.  All expectations were