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

On Saturday our twins, Jonah & Gia, turned 2!  It's unbelievably hard to believe two years have gone by already, but we were sure to celebrate to the max with a "CIRCUS-CIRCUS" party.  Unlike the twins' "Farm Sweet Farm" party last year, my husband held me to a small and strict budget which meant I had to get very creative when planning this little soiree.  I re-purposed a lot, I shopped around a lot, I crafted a lot and I baked a lot.  But, I must admit the DIY approach made the success of the party all the more rewarding.  Everyone had an absolute blast, especially the guests of honor! * * * * * * * * * * INVITATIONS: Instead of purchasing three-dimensional invitations, I decided to send electronic invites which featured the cutest colors and circus graphics.  Family and friends really got a kick out of the animation and were extremely excited to celebrate with "The Greatest Twins On Earth." KID'S TABLE: I rented specialized...

Awesome News Everyone!! Due to popular demand, I'll be teaching the Wedding Planning Certificate course again at Union County College this Fall, and I couldn't be more excited!  If you're interested in entering the wedding industry as a planner / consultant or if you already have lots of experience but would like to add certification to your list of qualifications, this is the class for you. Register today and/or share this opportunity with any family-member or friend who has a passion for wedding planning.  Visit the Union County College Continuing Education Department or simply call (908) 709-7600 option 3 to sign up.    HURRY, classes begin on September 18th ! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY LLC

To Do :  Go to your nearest newsstand or favorite book store ... Grab the Fall/Winter 2012 issue of The Knot New Jersey magazine ... flip to page 118 ... feast your eyes on our Enchanted Forest wedding, selected as one of last season's PERFECT New Jersey weddings! ******************** - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY LLC

Our Glamour & Grandeur couple were married over the weekend at The Ashford Estate , the newest and swankiest of venues in the gorgeous state of New Jersey.  You might recall us gushing over Elise and Sharif's engagement photos back in February.  Needless to say, we placed the bar pretty high for the design and planning of this event, beginning almost 15 months ago. When I first met with the bride and her mom, the venue was the only detail firmly decided upon, as it was impossible to resist an ultra romantic locale sitting on 30-acres of sculpted land, amidst sparkling fountains, waterfalls, a floating gazebo, stone ruins, garden arbors and sprawling views.  And as each guest drove through the lion-guarded iron gates and up the 1/4 mile tree-lined stone drive toward the estate, jaws certainly dropped.  The ceremony was held in the quaint barn chapel, decorated with white roses, white hydrangea, ivy and hanging crystal candles.  A white-wood canop...

We at THE BRIDAL PARTY have always been huge supporters and fans of quality videography. Although we hear "We're not going to have a video" constantly in meeting with new clients, we continue to urge brides and grooms to understand and appreciate how priceless moving pictures can be. The truth is - a good wedding video provides you with more realistic and interactive memories and should be as high up on the priorities list as good photography. Here's a look at two of our Autumn 2011 wedding highlight reels, our Enchanted Forest couple and our Isle to Aisle couple. Both weddings yielded spectacular photos, but in viewing their videos you can almost fully imagine what it was like to have actually been there! Aidan & Jon - Enchanted Forest Jamie & Nick - Isle to Aisle - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY LLC

When we shared snapshots of our Farm Fête wedding a little over a month ago, we mentioned barely being able to wait for professional photos because we KNEW they would be amazing.  And well, the proof is in the pudding !  This, one of our most anticipated events of the season, was such a beautiful example of placing wedding trends and "what's hot, what's not" aside for the sake of creating a celebration truly reflective of the couple and their love.  It was perfect. The ceremony, cocktail hour and reception were held atop and around the hills of Highlands Farm in Blairstown, New Jersey (land affectionately owned by the groom's family).  Guests were shuttled to the farm on yellow school buses and led down a sunny, tree-lined path toward the ceremony space.  It was a balmy Saturday afternoon, so we sat out rows of white wooden chairs flanked with bunches of daisies and had galvanized buckets of ice water nearby.  The bride and bridesmaids all wore vintage ...