Hey guys,
I know lately i've kinda kept a lot of my posts not too substantative ... more like (re)sharing news, ideas etc from other GREAT blogs... which is great, but i'm beginning to feel a little outta touch with y'all.
Part of the reason is that my current job is got me really busy. Also, i've had crazy weekends either traveling or planning events (My Friend's Small DC bridal shower, more details to come when i get the photos). But another reason is that i've got some REALLY REALLY BIG news coming up soon.
I know i'm a bit of a tease, but let me just say this. It's huge for me. I'm really excited. And I think it'll be a great thing for my readers as well... so please... STAY TUNED! Be Patient as there will be wedding planning updates, inspiration updates, and personal life updates REALLY REALLY SOON!
Until then, Please enter my giveaway... even if you don't want the prize, I'd love to hear your ideas/suggestions about what you love or hate about blogs as a reader! This will really help me out! And please pass it on. It ends tomorrow, but the suggestions, ideas, advice and comments are always welcome :)
Get The Relentless Bride Blog in your Email!
April 30, 2009
MyRecipes.com... didja know?
So you know i'm a big big fan of Real Simple Weddings! Well, I was recently introduced to MyRecipes.com, and i had no clue how much wedding content they had on their site... didja know?
like...
Budget-Friendly Wedding Ideas: Candied Pecan
Bachelorette Party Food to Remember
Planning a Wedding Reception Menu
Tying the Knot and Tailgating
Let’s Do Brunch
Eat Like a Bride
Incredible, Edible… Me?
like...
Budget-Friendly Wedding Ideas: Candied Pecan
Bachelorette Party Food to Remember
Planning a Wedding Reception Menu
Tying the Knot and Tailgating
Let’s Do Brunch
Eat Like a Bride
Incredible, Edible… Me?
All images from the related sites off MyRecipes.com Go check it out ! :) It's full of great ideas, awesome recipes and interesting articles !!!
April 29, 2009
Photography Giveaway
We always have a photog/blog crush on Noa@FeatherLove ... and did you know she recently did Speidi's wedding? That's right and now she's offering a May 2009 Photography GIVEAWAY! FREE! GIVEAWAY!
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 10PM (PST) on May3rd 10th 2009! So go on over there pronto and enter her great giveaway! And don't forget to enter my free jewelry giveaway too :)
ENTRIES MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE 10PM (PST) on May
Dress Shopping Tips
Great post borrowed from Ritzy Bee... and Leigh Ann was the totally awesome Girl I had with my first Dress shopping experience that really made that moment Amazing for me! :) Check out her great advice she posted on Ritzy Bee!
Does the thought of wedding dress shopping have you feeling overwhelmed? We are thrilled for a {very} special guest post today with some fantastic wedding dress shopping advice from our good friend Leigh Ann at Hitched in Georgetown. We love Hitched since they carry so many fabulous dress lines and designs...they are the best in the business for helping brides to get hitched {and stitched}!
Hello, fabulous {ritzy bee} readers! As a huge fan of Maria’s blog and creative event planning skills and advice, I was thrilled when she asked me to guest blog. At Hitched, we see all types of brides, so it was hard to pinpoint my “Top 5” gown shopping tips—but here goes!
1. Start early. It’s a good idea to order your gown 6-9 months before the wedding in order to avoid those dreaded rush fees, so starting the process about a year out from the big day (or sooner) is wise. As soon as you’ve secured the location and have an idea of the overall vibe of your wedding, the dress is the next step! However, if you’re working with a shorter time frame, don’t fret—at Hitched, for example, we carry many designers who are able to turn things around quickly if need be. A quick turnaround doesn’t mean you can’t have the dress of your dreams!
Keep in mind that deciding on your gown will also help set the tone for the other visual elements (flowers, bridesmaid dresses, etc.). Of course, take your time shopping, and continue to do so until you feel confident that you’ve found “the dress,” but once you have—pull the trigger! You don’t want to risk the gown of your dreams being discontinued, which can happen without warning.
2. Know yourself, but trust the experts. It’s helpful to start the shopping process with some sort of idea of what you’re looking for. If you want, you can bring in a couple of magazine cutouts, or simply describe to the bridal consultant some visual elements that you’d like to find in a gown. Staying true to your personal style will help steer her in the right direction, but be open to trying some things that she suggests for you as well. Remember that the dresses you’ve seen on models may or may not be a great match for you. The consultant should be able to steer you towards things that will be flattering on your shape, giving you more options of potential dresses to love.
{Ulla-Maija Anouk gown available at Hitched. Photo credit: Ulla-Maija.com}
{Oscar de la Renta Flower gown available at Hitched. Photo credit: Oscardelarenta.com}
3. Choose your shopping companions wisely. In the early stages of the shopping process, think about what kind of shopping experience is best for you. Consider shopping with someone in your life who will be able to help you tease out your own reactions to the gowns, or consider shopping alone. Try to create a shopping experience where you will be most comfortable making a decision. Do you normally like making decisions on your own, or taking a poll of other people’s opinions? Evaluating what makes you comfortable will help you decide whether to shop in a more intimate setting, or with an entourage of lovely ladies.
4. Don’t be afraid: to like something that’s not in your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to make a decision when you feel like you’ve found “the one.” Don’t be afraid if you don’t have that crying, “a-ha!” moment that you’ve heard about (for many brides, it’s more of a logistical, narrowing-down process). Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because changes can almost always be made to custom ordered gowns. Don’t be afraid to stand up for the gown that makes YOU feel spectacular, even if it’s not your mom’s absolute favorite. Don’t forget—everyone’s going to think you look beautiful in whatever you choose.
{Suzanne Ermann gown, select styles available at Hitched. Photo credit: suzanne-ermann.com}
5. Focus on the big picture. Shopping for a custom ordered gown often requires a fair bit of imagination, since the sample sizes rarely fit perfectly. Do your best to look past the clips and elastic, and remember that when YOUR dress comes in, it will be tailored to fit you, and won’t have been tried on by other brides-to-be (which can often lead to wrinkled or faded fabric). Also, think about what the finished product will look like in your photos, at the location you’ve chosen, with the flowers that you’re considering, and standing next to your groom. Of course, his heart will melt regardless of what you’re wearing, but sometimes when you’re down to 2 or 3 dresses, picturing him standing next to you will help make the decision clear.
Aren't these some great tips? And if you are in the DC area, make sure to stop by Hitched. It is an amazing experience!
Does the thought of wedding dress shopping have you feeling overwhelmed? We are thrilled for a {very} special guest post today with some fantastic wedding dress shopping advice from our good friend Leigh Ann at Hitched in Georgetown. We love Hitched since they carry so many fabulous dress lines and designs...they are the best in the business for helping brides to get hitched {and stitched}!
Hello, fabulous {ritzy bee} readers! As a huge fan of Maria’s blog and creative event planning skills and advice, I was thrilled when she asked me to guest blog. At Hitched, we see all types of brides, so it was hard to pinpoint my “Top 5” gown shopping tips—but here goes!
1. Start early. It’s a good idea to order your gown 6-9 months before the wedding in order to avoid those dreaded rush fees, so starting the process about a year out from the big day (or sooner) is wise. As soon as you’ve secured the location and have an idea of the overall vibe of your wedding, the dress is the next step! However, if you’re working with a shorter time frame, don’t fret—at Hitched, for example, we carry many designers who are able to turn things around quickly if need be. A quick turnaround doesn’t mean you can’t have the dress of your dreams!
Keep in mind that deciding on your gown will also help set the tone for the other visual elements (flowers, bridesmaid dresses, etc.). Of course, take your time shopping, and continue to do so until you feel confident that you’ve found “the dress,” but once you have—pull the trigger! You don’t want to risk the gown of your dreams being discontinued, which can happen without warning.
2. Know yourself, but trust the experts. It’s helpful to start the shopping process with some sort of idea of what you’re looking for. If you want, you can bring in a couple of magazine cutouts, or simply describe to the bridal consultant some visual elements that you’d like to find in a gown. Staying true to your personal style will help steer her in the right direction, but be open to trying some things that she suggests for you as well. Remember that the dresses you’ve seen on models may or may not be a great match for you. The consultant should be able to steer you towards things that will be flattering on your shape, giving you more options of potential dresses to love.
{Ulla-Maija Anouk gown available at Hitched. Photo credit: Ulla-Maija.com}
{Oscar de la Renta Flower gown available at Hitched. Photo credit: Oscardelarenta.com}
3. Choose your shopping companions wisely. In the early stages of the shopping process, think about what kind of shopping experience is best for you. Consider shopping with someone in your life who will be able to help you tease out your own reactions to the gowns, or consider shopping alone. Try to create a shopping experience where you will be most comfortable making a decision. Do you normally like making decisions on your own, or taking a poll of other people’s opinions? Evaluating what makes you comfortable will help you decide whether to shop in a more intimate setting, or with an entourage of lovely ladies.
4. Don’t be afraid: to like something that’s not in your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to make a decision when you feel like you’ve found “the one.” Don’t be afraid if you don’t have that crying, “a-ha!” moment that you’ve heard about (for many brides, it’s more of a logistical, narrowing-down process). Don’t be afraid to ask questions, because changes can almost always be made to custom ordered gowns. Don’t be afraid to stand up for the gown that makes YOU feel spectacular, even if it’s not your mom’s absolute favorite. Don’t forget—everyone’s going to think you look beautiful in whatever you choose.
{Suzanne Ermann gown, select styles available at Hitched. Photo credit: suzanne-ermann.com}
5. Focus on the big picture. Shopping for a custom ordered gown often requires a fair bit of imagination, since the sample sizes rarely fit perfectly. Do your best to look past the clips and elastic, and remember that when YOUR dress comes in, it will be tailored to fit you, and won’t have been tried on by other brides-to-be (which can often lead to wrinkled or faded fabric). Also, think about what the finished product will look like in your photos, at the location you’ve chosen, with the flowers that you’re considering, and standing next to your groom. Of course, his heart will melt regardless of what you’re wearing, but sometimes when you’re down to 2 or 3 dresses, picturing him standing next to you will help make the decision clear.
{Hitched gowns. Photo credit: Logan Martin Photography}
Aren't these some great tips? And if you are in the DC area, make sure to stop by Hitched. It is an amazing experience!
April 28, 2009
To gift or not to gift?
A friend of mine were recently talking back and forth and a question came up regarding bridal parties and gifting. So, since i think i know what I'd do in any given circumstance, I want to pose the questions to my readers.
Scenario A: You are in a wedding. The Bride/Groom cover most if not all your expenses - dress, shoes, hair, make up, and or nails and you help (financially, time, and effort) throw the expected bridal parties/celebrations... let's say at least 75% of your costs or more the Bride and groom cover aside from the parties.
Scenario B: You are in a wedding and expected to pay most if not all of your wedding costs - dress, shoes, hair, make up, and or nails and you also throw the expected bridal parties/celebrations.
And obviously there are many stages of in between gray in these scenarios... in which instances, do you feel that you are expected or should give a wedding gift as a person in the bridal party?
Do you feel that no matter how much you pay for the pre-wedding events and the attire for the wedding that you should still give a gift?
Do you feel that it all depends on your financial situation?
Do you feel that your gift is the time and money you spend on the pre-celebrations and/or dress/hair/make up etc?
What are your thoughts?
*PS Don't forget to enter the FREE Jewelry contest giveaway!
Scenario A: You are in a wedding. The Bride/Groom cover most if not all your expenses - dress, shoes, hair, make up, and or nails and you help (financially, time, and effort) throw the expected bridal parties/celebrations... let's say at least 75% of your costs or more the Bride and groom cover aside from the parties.
Scenario B: You are in a wedding and expected to pay most if not all of your wedding costs - dress, shoes, hair, make up, and or nails and you also throw the expected bridal parties/celebrations.
And obviously there are many stages of in between gray in these scenarios... in which instances, do you feel that you are expected or should give a wedding gift as a person in the bridal party?
Do you feel that no matter how much you pay for the pre-wedding events and the attire for the wedding that you should still give a gift?
Do you feel that it all depends on your financial situation?
Do you feel that your gift is the time and money you spend on the pre-celebrations and/or dress/hair/make up etc?
What are your thoughts?
*PS Don't forget to enter the FREE Jewelry contest giveaway!
April 27, 2009
A friend of a friend of a friend...
Because I believe the blogging world is a great place, I wanted to share with you and encourage you to take a minute to help out this happy couple... A friend of mine emailed me about an email she received that was forwarded from another friend...Yes, many degrees of separation but the world is a small place... So read on, take a moment, and help out another bride in need!
*****
Hello!
As most of you already know, Scott and I are engaged! We are beginning
our planning and in our research have stumbled upon an interesting
opportunity. A friend of Scott's from high school is running a contest
where the top 5 voted videos (or stories) get a destination wedding
for 10 to the Bahamas! Of course, it is a long shot, but since his
friend is in charge of the event and she keeps encouraging us, we made
up a video. Now, we just need your votes! Click here and
vote ours to be the best story. And pass it along to all of your
friends!!! The more the merrier:)
Just to be warned- its gets a bit cheesy- this contest is all about
the Bahamas- so we lay it on pretty thick:) Laugh all you want- just
don't forget to vote:) You have until May 17th, so Vote NOW! :)
*****
Hello!
As most of you already know, Scott and I are engaged! We are beginning
our planning and in our research have stumbled upon an interesting
opportunity. A friend of Scott's from high school is running a contest
where the top 5 voted videos (or stories) get a destination wedding
for 10 to the Bahamas! Of course, it is a long shot, but since his
friend is in charge of the event and she keeps encouraging us, we made
up a video. Now, we just need your votes! Click here and
vote ours to be the best story. And pass it along to all of your
friends!!! The more the merrier:)
Just to be warned- its gets a bit cheesy- this contest is all about
the Bahamas- so we lay it on pretty thick:) Laugh all you want- just
don't forget to vote:) You have until May 17th, so Vote NOW! :)
April 26, 2009
Invite Inspiration
Absolutely love this dogwood invitation...This dogwood invite by Paisley Tree Press is just perfect for spring! via Snippet And Ink
April 25, 2009
April 24, 2009
Bridal Inspiration
Paola, My coordinator recently did this wedding for Sanjay and Paola... and i'm inspired by the bride's attire...
The veil, with the flower hair piece and beautiful dress.... just dreamy!
The beautiful shoes... my type of girl!
The expressions on all their faces... PRICELESS!
To see more of their fabulous 2 day event, click here and here! I'm inspired!
The veil, with the flower hair piece and beautiful dress.... just dreamy!
The beautiful shoes... my type of girl!
The expressions on all their faces... PRICELESS!
To see more of their fabulous 2 day event, click here and here! I'm inspired!
April 23, 2009
Thursday Afternoon Cheer
My Smiley Happy puppy!
And Below... Kota desparately hoping he doesn't have to go on his afternoon walk... "look daddy... i'm too tired to go for a walk!~"
60% off Sale
I'm Over it is having a BIG, BIG sale
60% off all collections named after an old Hollywood starlet!!
Check out the site, and Just enter sparkle60 at checkout to receive the 60% off!
April 22, 2009
Photog/Blog Crush
You know I've posted before about Noa at Feather Love Photography... and i'm an avid Follower of Emilia at Veiled Vows... well when you combine two amazing people together, this is what you get.... all i can say is WOW!
WOW!
April 21, 2009
I won I won I won!!
Now we all know that
#1 I'm a big fan of deals, steals, offers, contests and giveaways. (Plug: Enter the Sandals Honeymoon Giveaway) I love to host them, but long before I ever hosted them on my own site, my passion is for great giveaways that I can also benefit from :)
#2 One of my favorite all time sponsors (my very first sponsor on my site) is MagnetStreet Weddings
#3 I have a huge blog crush on Heidi @Truly Engaging and follow her diligently. (At her blog, on Twitter, even Facebook Stalk her!)
Well when you add 1 + 2 + 3 together, what do you get?
No silly, not 6... you get this:
I won! :) I was ecstatic when i found out. It's been nutso at work lately, so i've been a bad blogger (my deep apologies to those who have noticed a lack of comments... life has been hectic, but i promise Imma catch up with y'all)... and when i got the email to notify me that I won... I about fell off my chair!
Perfect timing since we'll be taking our E-session soon. I've started to have to revisit the fun topic of Save the Dates, Invitations, Placecards, and Thank you Cards. I've already started stocking up on Forever Stamps too. YAY ME!!!
Thanks Heidi... you are right, my dilligent comments for the contest totally paid off :) And Thanks to MagnetStreet Weddings for hosting such an awesome contest :)
*look out soon for a post about how I intend to incorporate my own STD's in my wedding on Truly Engaging Blog! :)
#1 I'm a big fan of deals, steals, offers, contests and giveaways. (Plug: Enter the Sandals Honeymoon Giveaway) I love to host them, but long before I ever hosted them on my own site, my passion is for great giveaways that I can also benefit from :)
#2 One of my favorite all time sponsors (my very first sponsor on my site) is MagnetStreet Weddings
#3 I have a huge blog crush on Heidi @Truly Engaging and follow her diligently. (At her blog, on Twitter, even Facebook Stalk her!)
Well when you add 1 + 2 + 3 together, what do you get?
No silly, not 6... you get this:
Perfect timing since we'll be taking our E-session soon. I've started to have to revisit the fun topic of Save the Dates, Invitations, Placecards, and Thank you Cards. I've already started stocking up on Forever Stamps too. YAY ME!!!
Thanks Heidi... you are right, my dilligent comments for the contest totally paid off :) And Thanks to MagnetStreet Weddings for hosting such an awesome contest :)
*look out soon for a post about how I intend to incorporate my own STD's in my wedding on Truly Engaging Blog! :)
April 20, 2009
Booked my Lighting Vendor
I have finally booked my lighting vendor... and I only say "finally" because it did take a little while.
As we all know, i'm pretty uneducated when it comes to lighting. I did some research (here, here and here) and thought i had an idea of what i wanted. WOW. There is so much more to lighting than what we just see... thus, finding the perfect lighting vendor.
Now remember this post? Well, that was about my situation with "our" lighting guy. I knew he had experience and quality work, so much so that i even referred him to get the business of my friend's June wedding... but bedside manners are important. And whether that's email etiquette, phone, or in person... you want to be left feeling happy and important, not slighted and made to feel like i should be fortunate for the time given to me... Now, I was close to sending out my contract... I wasn't happy with our price but still knew it was a good deal. "our" lighting guy had "price matched" to keep our business... but he still left a bad taste in my mouth...
This is when i approached a few others. One was someone my coordinator recommended and another was someone i found off of google. Now, "our" lighting guy told me, that this was "the best deal" he could give me considering the "huge discount" he already offered (it was a price match, not a discount) and that he didn't think i'd be able to find a better deal elsewhere.
Well let me introduce my better deal... Props FX Productions! And a few samples of their work...
So, ladies (and gents)... if you get a bad vibe, a bad feeling... or something that just makes you feel not right about a vendor... keep looking. There are better deals to be had. Don't let anyone tell you that this is the best deal you will be able to find. I'm very happy with my choice. Brady has been awesome and was someone my coordinator highly recommended on her list of 3-5 lighting vendors from the very beginning. And when i say i got a "better" deal, it was a WAY WAY Better deal!
As we all know, i'm pretty uneducated when it comes to lighting. I did some research (here, here and here) and thought i had an idea of what i wanted. WOW. There is so much more to lighting than what we just see... thus, finding the perfect lighting vendor.
Now remember this post? Well, that was about my situation with "our" lighting guy. I knew he had experience and quality work, so much so that i even referred him to get the business of my friend's June wedding... but bedside manners are important. And whether that's email etiquette, phone, or in person... you want to be left feeling happy and important, not slighted and made to feel like i should be fortunate for the time given to me... Now, I was close to sending out my contract... I wasn't happy with our price but still knew it was a good deal. "our" lighting guy had "price matched" to keep our business... but he still left a bad taste in my mouth...
This is when i approached a few others. One was someone my coordinator recommended and another was someone i found off of google. Now, "our" lighting guy told me, that this was "the best deal" he could give me considering the "huge discount" he already offered (it was a price match, not a discount) and that he didn't think i'd be able to find a better deal elsewhere.
Well let me introduce my better deal... Props FX Productions! And a few samples of their work...
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So, ladies (and gents)... if you get a bad vibe, a bad feeling... or something that just makes you feel not right about a vendor... keep looking. There are better deals to be had. Don't let anyone tell you that this is the best deal you will be able to find. I'm very happy with my choice. Brady has been awesome and was someone my coordinator highly recommended on her list of 3-5 lighting vendors from the very beginning. And when i say i got a "better" deal, it was a WAY WAY Better deal!
April 19, 2009
Honeymoon Jewelry
You've got all your jewelry planned out for your wedding day...but what about after?? Kenneth Jay Lane 's new Garden Party line is a perfect solution for your honeymoon jewels! Beautiful and colorful flower jewelry that will go perfectly with those late night walks on the beach or sightseeing during the day! Leasing starts as low as $15.00 a week!
Add a few KJL Cocktail Rings and you're good to go!!
April 18, 2009
April 17, 2009
Great Save the Date Giveaway
Borrowed from Heidi @Truly Engaging Blog:
Save the Date {GIVEAWAY} through this weekend…
Let’s celebrate Spring by showcasing Save the Dates
to celebrate the season!
I love this sweet design… but if sassy is what you’re looking for… have fun and play with the colors, fonts and text to jazz it up and make it as dramatic as you want.
{Mini Save the Date magnet}
Love wine or getting married in a vineyard?
{Save the Date card}
Effortlessly cool… the retro Photo Booth style
{available on lovely linen paper too}
Showcase the colors of your culture!
{Save the Date magnet}
I just {heart} these Save the Dates!
Sports lovers? Here is just one design of MANY… Let your personality out with a fun, sports-themed Save the Date.
Check out our clever customers Nikki and Joey and their fun football Save the Date!
You guests will get lost in the sunset with this
romantic and dreamy Save the Date Postcard…
{ flexible enough for a “destination” OR “up north” wedding}
So many more designs… Search MagnetStreet Weddings extensive wedding gallery by theme to find your perfect Save the Date!
Enter Contest HERE!
PS. Do not comment on my blog, make sure to go to Truly Engaging to enter!
Wedding Paper Divas Promotion
A special rare opportunity for a great deal on William Arther Letterpress and Thermography designs. Usually never on any kind of sale, right now, if you purchase 75 of William Arthur Stationary, you get 25 of the same product for free! On ANY of his designs! Check it out NOW!
Also, if you are interested in the Signature collection, be sure to check out their thank you cards, b/c they are currently offering 25% off thank you cards when you order wedding invitations and response cards! Check out this deal now!
Make sure to stop by Wedding Paper Divas to check out their great deal right now :)
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