Wedding Junkie

Will you be my Flower Girl?

By Wedding Junkie December 29, 2006

Confessions, gals. How long have you been dreaming about your wedding day? They say that most of us start at the wee ages of infancy. For those of us with nieces we know that this myth is actually true. Just last week I bought my niece the coveted Wedding Barbie for Christmas — it’s all about weddings for her this year and she’s only four! So, whether or not it’s a co-marketing conspiracy between Mattel and Macy’s or it’s just the magic of the dress AND the prince AND that huge cake that does us in — we’re hooked until our big day comes! So, don’t let the opportunity to pamper your lil’ bride in training, a.k.a. Flower Girl, pass you by — here are some ideas to help you make this experience unforgettable for her as well.
You’ve Got Mail! A few places on the web have great cards that you can send to your Flower Girl to ask her to be in the wedding. I mean what kid doesn’t love to get mail, right?	$5.50 from Classy Bride
Forget the sandbox — we’re going shopping!! You went to a dozen bridal stores to try on gowns — so how about taking that little gal on a shopping trip that’s all about her. I mean, of course you’ll have to try on a gown or two yourself, but have this day be really be about her. My niece Sarah, pictured right, was the star of the show this day when we went to a quaint bridal boutique to glam her up. There she was all in curls with smiles from ear to ear.	Bride-in-training, Sarah, trying on Flower Girl dresses.
What’s a Flower Girl, Auntie? For lots of little ones this will be the first time they are in a wedding and they will want to know everything there is to know about being a Flower Girl. Luckily, there are some great books out there that explain all the in’s and out’s to help your little helper prep for her big day.	$13.00 from Classy Bride
Will you be my Flower Girl Care Package If your flower girl doesn’t live nearby you can still involve her in the process by sending her a Flower Girl care package. Here are some ideas on what to include: “Will you be my Flower Girl” card Flower Girl book Flower basket with fake rose petals to practice Pictures of her dress Flower Girl t-shirt	Starting from $9.95 plus shipping on eBay’s eFavormart
All-in-all remember to have a blast while you’re planning and use every possible opportunity to pamper yourself and those around you during this exciting time in your life! How did you pamper your Flower Girl? Send your stories and photos to stacey@weddingjunkie.com to be featured on an upcoming blog.

Planning Tools

Northern and Southern California Event Locations

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By Wedding Junkie December 18, 2006

Hey – congrats gal! Now that you’re engaged it’s time to find the ultimate location to hold your once-in-a-lifetime-shin-dig. With so many things to consider when searching for just the perfect location who can choose just one? Well if you’re anything like me I imagine you’ve been thinking to yourself… “Self…. should it be a garden or beach setting? In the country or in the city? Long aisle or short aisle? Inside or outside?” If this sounds like you then you’ll want to check out a fantastic online resource called, Here Comes the Guide, to help you navigate your search.
Straight from Here Comes the Guide… “Your complete resource for California event locations and services. Our online database has over 1,000 fantastic locations and pre-screened event professionals to help you plan weddings, rehearsal dinners, corporate events or parties.Find the perfect wedding location, search for wedding dresses, and compare florists, photographers and other vendors by using the easy-to-search listings and other features on herecomestheguide.com.” Excerpt taken directly from www.herecomestheguide.com
Here’s a taste of some of the great features this website offers: First and foremost — from the comfort of your office chair and on your bosses dime you can research multiple event locations from one website! multiple photos of each location are available 360 degree tours are often available pricing is listed you can see the “rules” of the event location: can you have your own caterer? can you supply your own alcohol? can you play music until dawn? etc. you get a listing of the services and amenities offered the search function let’s you set your search criteria to narrow your search results
All-in-all I have found this to be the most comprehensive website for event locations in California. I hope it’s a useful resource to you.If you used Here Comes the Guide to find your wedding location send me an email at stacey@weddingjunkie.com with the location name and why you picked it. Better yet – just submit a comment right here on the blog.

I’ll go first — I selected the Piedmont Community Center after seeing it on Here Comes the Guide. The Piedmont offered a spectacular garden setting and also had a beautiful ballroom to boot! The venue only scheduled one wedding per day which allowed my vendors the flexibility to set-up all day without being rushed. The indoor/outdoor thing was a big requirement for me. At the Piedmont we were able to dine outdoors and then take a few short steps right into a beautiful ballroom for dancing, cake cutting and chocolate fountain eating! It was perfect!How about you?

photos are from www.herecomestheguide.com

Planning Tools

Bachelorette Party: Saying Thanks

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By Wedding Junkie December 14, 2006

There will be so many memorable celebrations leading up to your wedding, but none quite like your bachelorette party. I’ve thrown a few, attended many more, and finally had my very own two years ago. I’m still hungover.

It was an amazing party — we went to Vegas — we got smashed — we put dollar bills in sweaty strippers banana hammocks — the whole enchilada. My closet girlfriends came to celebrate. They shelled out the cash for airfare, hotel rooms and it meant a lot to me that they would do that for me. So, I wanted to give them all a “thanks for coming” kind of gift. Matching PJs it was.

Before you laugh and call me lame these aren’t like the flannel PJs your grandma sewed for you — better yet like the bunny suite from “the Christmas Story movie”.. hahahahaha! I digress. And if there are any guys reading this they weren’t g-strings paired with a beer flavored rubber bra, either. They were cute tanks and pants adorned in a poker theme. When we had them on at night it reminded me of my childhood slumber parties with my very best girlfriends. Only this was some 15 years later. They were a hit and the gals still say they love them.

So I say, live it up — see strippers — laugh and stay up all night and always remember to express your thanks to the gals who travel near and far to be with you to share during your special moments.

How did you shower your girls with thanks? Send me your photos, creative ideas or comments to stacey@weddingjunkie.com or submit a comment right on the blog. I’d love to feature you and your ideas in an upcoming blog.

Matching “Thank-You” PJ’s Bachelorette Party

All dressed in black for the big night out

Party

Let’s put it this way — I don’t remember being in this chair that was carefully placed on the floor of the adult “toy store”. I do, however, recall the cold kiss of the hardwood floor as I fell off the chair just a few minutes after this photo was taken. Good times. Good times.

Bachelorette Party

Wedding Cakes – Get Inspired

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By Wedding Junkie December 13, 2006

The wedding cake is the jewel of the party — I mean second to you, of course. Make it special. And no, you don’t have to seek out some famous New York City baker to have a wedding cake your guests will be swooning over. Have some faith in your local bakers – chances are they are very talented in the skills necessary to recreate the look you want. Here’s a tip — when you come across a photo of a cake you love, either in a magazine or on-line, cut it out or print it out. I know, I know it’s seems like a no-brainer since you’ve likely been clipping out dresses and such from all your wedding mags — just don’t forget the cakes. When it comes time to place your cake order review the clippings you’ve gathered. Pick your favorite or make some notes on a few so that your baker can combine your ideas onto what will be your wedding cake. The wedding cake photos just below are from a client of mine. She saw the inspiration cake in a copy of Brides magazine and just fell in love. The only thing she modified was having the baker turn the ribbon and embellishments from gold to brown to complement her Cosmopolitan Styled, Pink & Brown wedding.
The Inspiration Cake Cake as seen in Brides Magazine	The Recreated Cake Cake by Neldams Bakery in Oakland, CA photos taken by Connie C. Leal photography, San Francisco, CA
Wedding Cake Resources The links that follow take you to wedding cake galleries, articles and websites of talented bakers.
Brides Magazine Online Cake Gallery Martha Stewart Wedding Cakes Webpage Your Wedding Company Cake Gallery	Love To Know’s Wedding Wiki Elegant Cheese Cakes Online Gallery Katrina Rozelle’s Online Gallery
I hope these resources inspire you to make your wedding cake a sparkling centerpiece on your big day! I’d love to hear about your favorite wedding cakes. Send me your photos, creative ideas or comments to stacey@weddingjunkie.com or submit a comment right on the blog. I’d love to feature your ideas in an upcoming blog.

Cakes

Wedding Colors: Black, White, Citron Yellow

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By Wedding Junkie December 12, 2006

Let’s talk color! One of the hottest trends this season is black and white. And while the duo is a staple of the fashion industry, screams simplicity, formality and classic style, you will likely want to add a third color into the mix to complete your wedding look. One of the greatest black and white trio’s for the spring and summer season includes Citron Yellow. So, if you think this color combo is an ultra-chic-color-consideration for your big day read on.

The Bridesmaid Dress
I know you can hear her now. “Yellow… youuuu want meeeee to wear yellow???”. Well, I imagine this is what these gals said until they put on these amazing Silk Shantung dresses from Aria Bridesmaids. They all look fantastic!

By the way — you will hear me talk a lot about these Aria dresses. I don’t work for them, they don’t pay me advertising $$, they simply have great color choices and an amazingly easy to use/easy to order website. Who could ask for more?

photo and dresses from www.ariadress.com

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers.
Yellow flowers bring a fresh, bright touch of color to the table, the bridesmaid bouquets and even to your bouquet.

Pictured right is a yellow peony and below is a peony bouquet. The pictures speak for themselves. Beautiful.

Yellow Peony

Pink Bouquet
Peonies in a bouquet — albeit pink!

Centerpieces and Decor
I am not worthy. I am not worthy. The Martha dynasty never ceases to amaze me… fruit in a bowl — who knew?

Using fruit in a glass vase is a great way to infuse color into your tablescape. Even better — using fruit that is in season can also be a real cost saver when compared to traditional floral centerpieces.

And what invitation, centerpiece, or favor would be complete without an accenting ribbon. The black and white polka dot ribbons pictured right look fantastic next to citron yellow.

photo from www.marthastewart.com

Polka Dots Ribbon

I’d love to see how you’ve used these colors or plan to use these colors. Send me your photos, creative ideas or comments to stacey@weddingjunkie.com or submit a comment right on the blog. I’d love to feature you and yourideas in an upcoming blog.

Color Schemes

where bridezillas conquer

Will you be my Flower Girl?

Northern and Southern California Event Locations

Bachelorette Party: Saying Thanks

Wedding Cakes – Get Inspired

Wedding Colors: Black, White, Citron Yellow

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