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

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

NEW JERSEY BRIDES: This week, join Macy's Wedding & Gift Registry for an event featuring fun beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and great registry experts to help you create your dream registry.  Bring your fiance, sip your favorite drink and select wedding gift choices ... a perfect date night! You’ll also receive a fabulous gift from The Knot. Call the number below for your chosen store to reserve a spot now. Please be sure to include your phone number, which store you are coming to, and how many people plan to attend. Tuesday, September 14th Time: 7pm Macy's Freehold 3710 Route 9 South Freehold, NJ 07728 3rd Floor RSVP: 732-761-6305 Wednesday, September 15th Time: 7pm Macy's Bridgewater 400 Commons Way Bridgewater, NJ 08807 3rd Floor RSVP: (908) 429-3306 - - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

It's about that time!  Here we are posting about the latest and greatest in wedding registry items again. Remember, setting up your wedding registry doesn't have to be as confusing and stressful as it may seem. It's actually quite easy to have fun while hand-picking many of the items you'll receive for your wedding. Just be sure to do your research, take your time and make it count! Here are a few registry picks to consider: Monogrammable Great White Dinnerware - Pottery Barn Robin Salt & Pepper Shakers - Z Gallerie All-Clad Electric Indoor Grill - William-Sonoma Mini Madeleine Mold - Sur La Table DēLonghi Slow Cooker - Crate & Barrel Six "Celebration" Champagne Flutes - Horchow Steady Stick Picnic Table + Wine Holders - Red Envelope - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

New Jersey Brides, join Macy's Wedding & Gift Registry for an event featuring fun beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and great registry experts to help you create your dream registry. Bring your fiancé and he can play 007 with the scan gun while you sip your drink and approve his choices. You'll also receive a fabulous gift from The Knot. The perfect weeknight date! Call the number below for your chosen store to reserve a spot now! Please be sure to include your phone number, which store you are coming to, and how many people plan to attend. Date: Wednesday, March 3rd Time: 7:00pm Macy's Freehold 3710 Route 9 South Freehold, NJ 07728 Upper Level RSVP: 732-761-6305 Macy's Willowbrook 1100 Willowbrook Mall Wayne, NJ 07470 Upper Level RSVP: 973-812-6105 Date: Thursday, March 4th Time: 7:00pm Macy's Bridgewater 400 Commons Way Bridgewater, NJ 08807 3rd Floor RSVP: 908-429-3305 Date: Friday, March 5th Time: 7:00pm Macy's Short Hills 1220 ...

It's time for Crate and Barrel's Wedding Parties! Be a queen for a day, the store's yours. Great food, good music, fabulous drinks and loads of advice on putting together the perfect gift registry. RSVP today and have fun! - - - - - - - - - - by Rashana Anderson Founder & Managing Director, THE BRIDAL PARTY

I doubt it's been revealed whether or not Oprah Winfrey will broadcast her "Favorite Things" episode this year, but I'm keeping my fingers crossed. I absolutely adore that show. Still, I already have my own list of favorite things which I've decided to share with you, my readers. These items are useful for just about everyone, but perfect for brides and grooms to be. Happy Wedding Registry Shopping! Extra Ingredient Apron Full of pleats and topped with a corsage, this striped beauty adds a dash of black and white to your cooking routine. Designed by Philadelphia-based artist Kim Soles.  Anthropologie .   Capresso Electric Kettle Boil water fast and elegantly with this smart electric kettle. Features concealed heating element, cordless carafe and auto shut-off. Convenient ounce and cup markings on carafe and cool-touch handle.  Sur la table . Dividers Recipe Box  A smart idea with simple styling in durable, eco-friendly bamboo. Acrylic recipe prote...

Setting up your wedding registry doesn't have to be as confusing and stressful as it may seem. It's actually quite easy to have fun while hand-picking many of the items you'll receive for your wedding. Just be sure to do your research, take your time and make it count! So, if you have room for a few more items, here are a few snazzy picks in the marketplace to consider: Michael Aram for Waterford "Garland" Dinnerware Collection Milky bone china embossed with a simple ring of laurel. Perfect for formal or casual dining. Premium Margaritaville Trio Frozen Concoction Maker This impressive machine delivers pitcher upon pitcher of restaurant-quality frozen drinks thanks to its 3 independent blending stations. Blends delicious margaritas, daiquiris, piña coladas, mudslides, mojitos and smoothies at the touch of a button.   Bamboo Bread Box Naturally variegated bands of renewable bamboo create a sleek curved profile, with a roomy interior.     Dirt Devil Kurv Ha...

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!

Your After "Yes," Before "I Do" & Everything In Between blog archive reminder has arrived! Take a look back at what we were discussing this week, one year ago. What's On Your Registry (7 of last year's hottest items for wedding registries) For $1000 Or Less  (gorgeous bridal gown choices for under a "grand") Engagement Party Theme: The Ring  (ideas for planning a celebration of your engagement paying homage to your ring) Create-A-Cake (design your wedding cake online)

ATTENTION BRIDES, GROOMS & WEDDING GUESTS: Dillard's is holding a clearance sale on fine china. There are huge deals on Waterford, Kate Spade and even Vera Wang. Just go to Dillards.com and search by the item numbers listed below. Wedgwood "Madrid" (search 00946691) $28 Waterford "Giselle" (search 02086199) $31 Vera Wang by Wedgewood "Fidelity" (search 01428121) $32 Kate Spade "McCormick Square" (search 02146432) $32 Wedgwood "Celestial Platinum" (search 00857182) $33 Vera Wang by Wedgewood "Pink Duchesse" (search 01028537) $35 Wedgwood "Lustreware Pacific Stripe" (search 02729743) $38 Wedgwood "Lustreware Oyster" (search 02729742) $38

I always LOVE posting about the latest and greatest in wedding registry items . Sometimes registering for wedding gifts can be confusing and stressful, but at the same time it's easy to have fun while hand-picking many of the items you'll receive for your wedding. Just remember to make it count. Do your research and take your time. Here are a few registry picks to consider: Cuisinart Grind & Brew Thermal 10-Cup Automatic Coffeemaker The Cuisinart Grind & Brew is what many call "an elegantly designed coffeemaker." This machine automatically grinds whole beans before brewing, so every cup is fresh and rich. And one of it's other great features is that the timer can be set up to 24 hours ahead, so you can wake up to a fresh pot. Calphalon Panini Grill with Press Panini's are all the rage these days and Calphalon has made it easy to grill sandwiches and juicy burgers. The cast iron pan features a ridged bottom that brings all the benefits of outdoor grill...

Bedding ... flatware ... home decor ... luggage ... these are all common items on engaged couple's wedding registry lists. And while it can be fun as well as practical to hand-pick many of the items you'll receive for your wedding, always remember to make it count. Be sure to include one-of-a-kind items, defining pieces that could potentially stay with you until your 50th anniversary, keepsakes to pass down through the generations ... starting with you. Here are a few of the "hottest" wedding registry picks to consider: Artisan Stand Mixer One of the most popular kitchen appliances on the market and also, the prettiest! The Artisan stand mixer is a must for bakers. It boosts 10-speeds and a 5-qt. stainless steel work bowl. A wonderful tool to display on your counter top. Available at Bloomingdales . Ralph Lauren "Odeon" Bedding Ralph Lauren's brand has been built and maintained on tradition .... and the antiqued 1930s wallpaper pattern that inspires th...

Event Planner and Lifestyle Expert, Mindy Weiss , is the new Bridal Spokesperson for Fortunoff . Listed in the New York Times as one of the top five wedding planners in the United States, Mindy has created wedding ceremonies for such high-profile celebrities such as Eva Longoria & Tony Parker; Heidi Klum & Seal; Gwen Stefani & Gavin Rossdale; Pink & Carey Hart; Jackie & Adam Sandler and more. Modern Bride voted Mindy one of its' coveted 'Top 25 Trendsetters' in 2005. In addition, she's been voted first place in the Los Angeles Citysearch.com "Best of' Wedding /Party Planner category in both 2006 and 2007. Fortunoff is confident that Mindy will bring the same unique bridal and event planning expertise that she offers to her celebrity clientele to their registered couples. She will also be sharing her creative party planning ideas, her interior décor and entertaining tips and showcasing her exquisite attention to detail. Coming Soon: Registere...