Two Wedding Gowns?

 An emerging trend in 2010 is the second wedding dress. The first one being the ceremony gown and the second the reception gown or dress. Many couples today do not want a traditional stuffy or sedate reception. They want their reception to feel like the party of the year, especially after the meal when everyone hits the dance floor. When a bride does decide to wear a different gown for the reception, usually is it a much lighter weight dress than the gown for the ceremony. The second dress should have some sizzle to it - you can choose a more daring style than you wore for the service.Part of the fun of having two wedding gowns is the wow factor when your guests see your quick change act! A slinky beaded sheath would be incredible on a sophisticated bride. Another option would be to choose one of the tea or knee length bridal gowns that designers now offer. Here are some ideas:

Roberto Cavalli

Tibi

Antik Batik

Lanvin

Phillip Lim

Beautiful Venues

More than any other part of the wedding, your reception represents your unique personality. Whether you decide upon an elegant evening gala or a festive afternoon soire, an indoor ball or a southern-style outdoor affair, your reception requires careful planning, an abundance of patience and a plethora of time. Here are a few of our favorite venues!

The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina is rich in history. It is America's oldest home. Opened by George Vanderbilit in 1895.  

The Waldorf Astoria is New York City's premier luxury hotel. The hotel has an interesting history. An Astor family feud contributed to the events which actually led to the construction of the original Waldorf-Astoria on Fifth Avenue. The Waldorf Astoria is etched in history as the legendary host to royalty, heads of state, the social elite and entertainment's most famous.

Shutters on the Beach is one of Los Angeles area's top wedding locations. Located in beautiful Santa Monica, the ocean views alone will prove to be most memorable.

The Breakers Hotel & Resort in Palm Beach, Florida hosts more than 100 weddings per year. Also a historic hotel, it was opened on January 16, 1896 by Henry Flagler, an oil, real estate and railroad tycoon, to accommodate travelers on his Florida East Coast Railway.

     

    

 Another historic hotel, the The Huntington Spa at The Langham is one of the finest hotels in Southern California. A 100 year old landmark, the hotel is located on 23 acres of rolling manicured grounds just nine miles north of downtown Los Angeles The Langham, Huntington Hotel & Spa Pasadena offers breathtaking views of the San Gabriel Mountains and Los Angeles. A fabulous backdrop for the wedding day of your dreams.

Bridal Shower Inspiration Boards

{Courtesy of Hostess with the Mostess}

 {Courtesy of The Celebration Shoppe}

{Courtesy of Tastefully Entertaining}

Amy Ming: Jewelry Designer

Here at La Belle Mariee we are fortunate to meet new people all of the time. Personally, I happened to be on Facebook one day and someone sent me a page suggestion for Amy Ming. If you're like me you check out the page first before you press the "Confirm" button. What I found was jewelry that is classy, edgy and just downright glamorous! If you like raw gems, Ms. Ming is the jewelry designer for you!  

Welcome Bags for Guests

 A popular item to present to out of town guests are are welcome bags. I love gift bags and baskets becuase it is a lovely gesture to from you to your guests and lets them know that you appreciate them sharing you special day with them. For ideas on how to create your own personalized welcome bag, I checked in with our friends at beau-coup.

The Signature Drink

 With every wedding season there are wedding trends. One of the trends that I love to see couples embrace is the Signature Drink.

The signature drink is a great idea for brides that are on a budget. Instead of offering an open bar, serve beer and wine, champagne for the toast and then one special cocktail. This will prove quite cost effective.

Often times couple choose to use the signature color of the wedding or choose a color that will compliment the decor of the wedding. Also, naming your signature drink something fun and festive will definitely keep your guest talking!

  

Questions To Ask When Hiring Your Wedding Cake Designer

Here is some more great advice on what questions to ask when hiring a cake designer from the folks at Here Comes The Guide

 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN HIRING YOUR WEDDING CAKE DESIGNER

Next to your dress, the cake is probably a wedding’s most important icon. And whether you want a traditional multi-tiered confection, a miniature Statue of Liberty (hey, that’s where he proposed!) or a cupcake tower, your wedding cake should reflect your personality. Use the following questions as a guide when evaluating a potential cake designer.

BUSINESS MATTERS

1. Do you have my wedding date open?

2. How many wedding cakes do you schedule on the same day?

3. How do you price your cakes? By the slice? Does the cost vary depending on the design and flavors I choose?

4. What is your minimum per-person cake cost?

5. What recommendations can you give me to maximize my budget?

6. Do you have a “menu” of cakes and prices that I can take with me?

7. What are the fees for delivery and setup of the cake? Do you decorate the cake table, too?

8. What do you do if the cake gets damaged in transit to or at my reception site?

9. Do you provide or rent cake toppers, a cake-cutting knife, cake stands, etc.? What are the fees?

10. How far in advance should I order my cake?

11. How much is the deposit and when is it due?

12. When is the final payment due?

13. Are there any additional fees that I should be aware of?

14. What is your refund policy if for some reason I need to cancel my order? What if I’m not happy with the cake?

15. When can I expect to receive my contract from you?

BACKROUND CHECK

16. How long have you been in business?

17. How many weddings have you done?

18. Where did you receive your training?

19. Can you provide me with references from 3–4 recent brides that I can contact?

THE CAKE

20. If you’re not familiar with cake terms, please look at the cake glossary below.

21. Do you have a portfolio of your work I can view, and did you make all the cakes in it?

22. What are your specialties?

23. Can you design a custom cake to match my theme, dress or color scheme, or do I select from set designs?

24. If I provide you with a picture of what I’d like, can you recreate it? Does it cost extra for a custom design?

25. I have an old family cake recipe. Can you adapt it for my wedding cake design?

26. If I don’t have a clear vision of what I would like, can you offer some design ideas based on my theme and budget?

27. What flavors and fillings do you offer?

28. What are the different ingredients you typically use? Do you offer all organic or vegan options?

29. Do you have cake tastings? Is there a charge?

30. Do you do both fondant and buttercream icing?

31. Are there any other icing options I should consider? Which do you recommend for my cake design?

32. Can you create sugar paste, gum paste or chocolate flowers? If I decide to have fresh flowers on my cake will you work with my florist or will you obtain and arrange the flowers yourself?

33. Will you preserve the top tier of my cake for my first wedding anniversary or do you provide a special cake for the occasion?

34. Can you make a groom’s cake? Is this priced the same as my wedding cake?

35. How much in advance of the wedding is the cake actually made? Do you freeze your cakes?

USEFUL TIPS

Arrange a consultation with your potential cake designer in person, and do a tasting before you sign a contract. NOTE: Not all cake tastings are complimentary.

Make sure your cake designer specializes in wedding cakes. A wedding cake is generally much more elaborate than a birthday cake from your local bakery. Your cake professional should have special training in

constructing this type of cake.

In general, you should order your cake 6–8 months prior to your wedding.

You might be able to save money by choosing one overall flavor for your cake.

WEDDING CAKE GLOSSARY

A) Icings

Buttercream

 It’s rich and creamy, is easily colored or flavored, and is used for fancy decorations like shells, swags, basketweaves, icing flowers, etc. Since it’s made almost entirely of butter (hence the name), buttercream has a tendency to melt in extreme heat, so it’s not recommended for outdoor weddings.

Fondant

Martha Stewart’s favorite. This icing looks smooth and stiff and is made with gelatin and corn syrup to give it its helmet-like appearance (it’s really very cool looking). It looks best when decorated with marzipan fruits, gum paste flowers, or a simple ribbon,  like Martha likes to do. Although not as tasty as buttercream or ganache, fondant does not need refrigeration so it’s the perfect icing to serve at your beach wedding.

Royal Icing

A mix of confectioner’s sugar and milk or egg whites, royal icing is what the faces of gingerbread men are decorated with. It’s white, shiny and hard, and does not need to be refrigerated. It’s used for decorations like dots and latticework.

Ganache

This chocolate and heavy cream combination Whipped Cream is very dark, and has the consistency of store-bought chocolate icing. It can be poured over cakes for a glass-like chocolate finish or used as filling (it stands up wonderfully between cake layers). Due to the ingredients, however, it’s unstable—don’t use it in hot or humid weather or the icing will slide right off the cake. Delicious, but by far the most volatile, fresh whipped cream is usually not recommended for wedding cakes because they have to be out of the fridge for so long If you really want to use it (it looks extremely white and fresh, which goes beautifully with real flowers) just keep it in the fridge until the very last second.

B) Decorations

Marzipan

An Italian paste made of almonds, sugar and egg whites that is molded into flowers and fruits to decorate the cake. They’re usually brightly colored and very sugary. Marzipan can also be used as icing.

Gum Paste

This paste, made from gelatin, cornstarch, and sugar, produces the world’s most realistic, edible fruit and flower decorations. Famous cake designers like Sylvia Weinstock are huge fans of gum paste. One nice benefit: these decorations last for centuries in storage.

Piping

Piping is ideal for icing decorations like dotted Swiss, basketweave, latticework, and shells. It comes out of a pastry bag fitted with different tips to create these different looks, which can range from simple polka dots to a layered weave that you’d swear is a wicker basket.

Pulled Sugar

If you boil sugar, water, and corn syrup it becomes malleable and the most beautiful designs can be created. Roses and bows that have been made from pulled sugar look like silk or satin—they’re so smooth and shiny.

Dragees

These hard little sugar balls are painted with edible gold or silver paint, and they look truly stunning on a big ol’ wedding cake. 

Star In Your Own Magazine: Guest Blogger Joelle Caputa ( Magazines By Joelle)

STAR IN YOUR OWN MAGAZINE!

by

JOELLE CAPUTA, MAGAZINES BY JOELLE

 You’ve spent months, maybe even years, devouring the pages of every bridal magazine on the newsstand since your fiancé placed that gorgeous sparkler on your finger. Perhaps you’ve been ripping out pages along the way, making note of every little detail that you love and hope to somehow incorporate into your Big Day. You probably stared at each model in her gown, imagining your glamorous self in her place, and soaked in feature stories of real-life couples and their weddings.

Now, picture the guests at your wedding, flipping through a magazine and reading about YOUR love story, meeting the bridal party and looking back on photos of you and your soon-to-be-spouse through the years.

Dazzle your guests before you event walk down the aisle!

Star in your own magazine.

Magazines by Joelle creates full-color, glossy booklets featuring the couple and provides an eye-catching alternative to standard Programs, Save-the-Dates and Thank-Yous.

Have you ever received Thank-You from a wedding that was a magazine filled with photos from the event, featuring the Bride & Groom, attendants and guests?

No?

But you have gotten photo cards, magnets and the like countless times, right?

Be a trendsetter.

This is your Big Day.

Do it different.

Here's what you need to know:

Many bridal companies offer “custom” stationery choices- but in many cases, all “custom” means is choosing the color ribbon and font style to adorn fancy stationery.

For Magazines by Joelle, “custom” stands for something that no one else will have but the couple placing the order.

They are on the cover.

Their memories are showcased on each page and the motif of their big day is incorporated into their magazine. The result is a keepsake that guests--not just the mothers of the bride and groom--will take home instead of toss in the trash.

A MAGAZINE BY JOELLE CAN:

Be a save-the-date or invitation.

This is an ideal option for destination weddings because the bride & groom can include hotel information and tourism options for guests.

Tell the couple's love story.

- From the courtship to the proposal and all the defining moments in between.

Spotlight the couple's pets.

This is a stress-free way for couples to include beloved pets in their special day.

Include a list of the bride and groom's favorite things or little known facts.

Express appreciation for their families.

Be an outlet to promote a cause.

Couples who choose to donate to an organization in lieu of giving favors can further promote a cause close to their hearts through their Magazine by Joelle.

Be sent as a Thank-You.

This is a great way to share the professional photos from the event with guests. Include behind-the-scenes moments and even photos of your guests dancing the night away. Imagine their excitement when they open a Magazine by Joelle Thank-You and see a photo of themselves inside!

For even more ideas visit http://www.magazinesbyjoelle.com/

CONTACT:

PHONE:  973-342-3259

FACEBOOK:  www.facebook.com/magazinesbyjoelle

TWITTER:  www.twitter.com/GotTheRing

A Wonderful Weekend!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend!

Wedding Dress Inspiration: Michelle Obama

Recently, we received a lovely email from the wonderful folks at Here Comes The Guide thanking us for including them in our blogroll here at La Belle Mariee. They were kind enough to permit us to post six of their wonderful articles. Enjoy!

Wedding Dresses Inspired by Our First Lady

by

Jolene Rae Harrington, Dir. of Creative Content

Bows, peplums, floral details, jeweled belts and the return of the ball gown all made news at the New York Bridal Market this past October as the 2010 wedding dress collections were revealed. But perhaps the most prominent wedding fashion trend is the one-shoulder gown, which first made an appearance in 2009 and is still going strong for 2010.

Ever since First Lady Michelle Obama dazzled the nation with her Jason Wu one-shoulder formal at the Inaugural Ball, fashionistas have flocked to emulate her—a sure sign of her popularity. Like it or not, a First Lady or a Royal is often judged by her fashion sense. (Princess Di? 10. Nancy Reagan? 7. Hillary? uh… let’s not go there.) Favoring outfits that show off her buff physique, our Michelle has created quite the media buzz with her fashion choices.

And wedding designers have taken their cue from the sleek and chic First Lady. This year, designers got creative with uniquely beautiful interpretations of that now famous one-shoulder adornment. Here are some of our favorites from both seasons:

Maggie Sottero has glammed up her strap with intricate beading on her “Desirae” bridal gown.

In Amsale's glossy taffeta gown with tiered skirt, the single shoulder is an extension of the ruched bodice

From his Platinum Collection, Angel Sanchez stunning silk trumpet gown is held up by a pretty organza ribbon.

From her Platinum Collection, Monique Lhuillier, has lavished her model’s one skinny shoulder with a swathe of embellished Chantilly lace.

Reverie by Melissa Sweet from 2009 anticipated this season’s faux flower trend by draping blossoms over one shoulder.

The ever-glamorous Romona Keveza has created an ethereal Grecian-influenced bridal gown with a sheer silk over-the-shoulder drape.

Sarah Houston Couture's “Willow” gown rocked the NY runway with a mermaid hem and delicately embroidered shoulder.

Vera Wang goes modern and architectural with her diagonal, criss-cross pattern on the bodice and shoulder.

Siri's regal “Rio” gown has a ruched strap that complements the bodice.