Wedding Junkie

Her Guest Book Stole the Prize!

By Wedding Junkie January 29, 2007

Every time I attend a wedding I am WOWed by the creativity of the bride. There is always one thing that sticks out as being amazingly unique… one of those things that makes you say… “Why didn’t I think of that?” At my friend Katie’s wedding last September, she stole the “unique and creative prize” with her one-of-a-kind guest book. Her wedding was of the destination sort up the Northern California coast in the quaint seaside community of Sea Ranch. The ceremony took place in a hilltop church that featured floor to ceiling windows that framed the spectacular views of the surrounding redwoods. When you stepped outside the building you could see and hear the crashing waves of the Pacific. It was absolutely stunning. Katie spent many summers there as a child and then as a couple these two frequented this locale on weekend get-aways. Sea Ranch means a lot to them and so they chose it to be “their wedding spot” forever etching Sea Ranch in their history together.

To commemorate Sea Ranch, Katie and Steve chose to have guests sign the pages of a hardback, coffee table style book featuring photographs of Sea Ranch. What a cool idea!

Katie and Steve saying “I Do” in Sea Ranch.

The book Katie and Steve used as a guest book titled ‘The Sea Ranch’

Here are some ideas to help inspire you to create a one of a kind guest book of your own:

#1 If you’re having a destination wedding think of getting a book like Katie did that features your wedding location or area. Here are a few:

Hawaii – see book title ‘Spectacular Hawaii’
Mexico – see book titled ‘Eternal Mexico’
The Sea Ranch - see book titled ‘The Sea Ranch’
Napa Valley – see book titled ‘Hidden Napa Valley’
New York – see book titled ‘New York: 365 Days’
Disneyland – see book titled ‘The Art of Disneyland’

#2 Create one of those hardback Photo Books from Shutterfly or Kodak Gallery featuring your favorite photos.

#3 Select a book that represents you and your guy’s favorite “stuff”.

Your favorite artist
Your favorite vacation spot
Where you were engaged
Your favorite cookbook

I went to Katie’s house this weekend and there it was… her guest book… sitting on the coffee table right under the remote. When I saw it we immediately started to chat about her wedding and then proceeded to get out photos and laugh about this and that. I guess this is how she envisioned it working? It’s a random Saturday.. her wedding a distant memory to most… someone grabs for the remote and BAM… they see this gorgeous book from the wedding. Wedding conversation ensues… we say how pretty she looked… she smiles.. we laugh… we reminisce… SHE’S A TRUE WEDDING JUNKIE!!!! Who knew grabbing the remote control could bring up so many memories? Apparently, Katie did.

I hope these ideas give you some inspiration for your big day. Until next time, have a blast planning and always, always, always — remember to dream big, gals!

Guest Books

Cake Toppers of the Bling- Bling Variety

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By Wedding Junkie January 26, 2007

Hallelujah, gals! Gone are the days of the cake topper featuring the blond plastic figurine (when you’re a brunette) perched beside the Ken look-a-like (when your guy happens to be a strikingly handsome… well, bald dude). From simple monograms to those adorned with hand placed Swarovskian crystals us Junkie’s have lots to choose from these days. Rejoice, revel and get shopping.

To help you on your shopping quest, I’ve gathered a few Cake Jewelry showstoppers to help you find the ultimate cake bling. Check it out!

Very Different Cakes makes colorful Swarovski Crystal Cake Jewels. The husband and wife owners also make amazing cakes. All I can say is you-will-die when you see their stuff.

Website: http://www.verydifferentcakes.com/
Gallery: http://www.verydifferentcakes.com/pix/all/gallery.htm

www.verydifferentcakes.com
photos courtesy of http://www.verydifferentcakes.com/

Debra Moreland’s PARIS Cake Jewelry Collection is an amazing, couture collection of unique cake jewelry. She also does hair jewelry and accessories! Lil’ glam for your cake… lil’ glam for you…

Website: http://www.paristiaras.com
Gallery: http://www.paristiaras.com/collections/cakejewelry.php

Paris
photos courtesy of http://www.paristiaras.com/collections/collections.php

Thumbprint Kids by Dawn Stubitsch is the ultimate if you are looking to re-create yourself (yes, yourself) on a Cake Topper! How does she do it?

Website: http://www.thumbprintkids.com/index.html
Gallery: http://www.thumbprintkids.com/pages/characterfig.htm

www.thumbprintkids.com

photos courtesy of http://www.thumbprintkids.com/index.html

OK, this one is just for laughs. I found a cake topper online with a bald groom (pictured left). The couple has a strinking resemblance to my husband and I — Hilarious!!! I didn’t have the guts to actually buy this and put it on our cake… so instead I keep the image in my computer files and snicker each and every time I come across it.

Have a blast selecting your special cake bling and always-always-always remember to dream big, gals!

Cakes

“Hello, gal. This is Oprah…”

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By Wedding Junkie January 11, 2007

Most small business owners, battered wives and brides-to-be dream of getting “the c-a-l-l” from Oprah. Why, you say? Well, likely it means you’ve been added to Oprah’s Top 10 -or- lucky you, Dr. Phil will be giving you marital advice -or- better yet, Oprah herself has chosen you to be the proud (and when I say “proud” I mean wet your pants excited-roll over in jubilation-tell your boss to take a hike-kind of excitement.. it’s really more likely to bring you shame… but I digress) recipient of Oprah’s Million Dollar Wedding. We all should be so lucky, right?

So, while we all wait in anticipation for the call, we can still enjoy the inspiration that Colin Cowie provides on his website’s photo gallery featuring Oprah Winfrey’s Million Dollar Weddings. Have you seen this yet, gals? If not, grab a tissue for your drool and get ready to be amazed.

Just click on the photos to go to be redirected to the gallery. Enjoy!

photos courtesy of www.colincowie.com

Planning Tools

Fruit in a bowl. Who knew?

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By Wedding Junkie January 9, 2007

You know what they say… the simplest ideas are often the best ideas. And in this case it’s true! Using fruit as an alternative to the traditional floral arrangement can give your table an unexpected punch of color that’s easy on the budget. Check out the tips and tricks below that will help you pull together a colorful centerpiece that looks good enough to eat!

Helpful Tips: #1: Use hard skinned fruit that can withstand being handled that doesn’t easily bruise. Green or red apples, pomegranites, tangerines, oranges, lemons, limes, or unripened pears are great choices. #2: Fruit is buoyant and if you plan to add water to the vase your fruit may float. Pack your vase full of fruit to reduce the chance of fruit floating to the top. #3: Pre-order your fruit from the produce department at your local grocery store so you don’t have to go to multiple stores to get all that you need. #4: If you pre-order fruit ask if you can get the fruit without those annoying little stickers on them. #5: To add a shine to the fruit rinse them in a bath of one part white vinegar to five parts water. Then towel dry to shine. #6: Mix em’ up by using two types of fruit in one vase. #7: Add a touch of food coloring to the water to infuse yet another element of color. #8: Buy 10% more than you think you need. There’s nothing worse than getting to the last vase and having only two pieces left to work with. #9: Have a “fruity” party with your friends to get all of these little guys prepared for your big day. Create an assembly line to remove stickers, wash the fruit and re-pack it into boxes. #10: Purchase your fruit a day or two ahead and keep it covered in the box and out of sunlight. #11: After the big day is over donate it to a local charity.	Wrapping a color coordinated ribbon around the vase can add a great finishing touch. Instead of pearls you can opt for another colored ribbon to lay in yet another element of your color scheme.	Check out how stylin’ your table will look by using black and white damask tablecloths with shiny red apples.
	We filled this three foot tall vase with pears and then tinted the water pink for that added glam factor.	Prop your centerpiece up on something or set it on top of a mirror. Think about adding some soft candlelight to the ensemble for some added sparkle.
	Check out this combo, Maybe a little over the top, but the fusion of fresh limes with classic pearl beading is a cutie!	Fill the fruit to the rim gals — the more the merrier!
	Red apples look fantastic with black, white and silver.	There are so many options when going with a black and white color scheme. Here we accented the black and white with bright yellow lemons in an apothecary vase. Hello, Hollywood Glam!
Who knew something so simple could look sooo glammy? All I can say is Flowers must be jealous! Send me your photos, ideas and thoughts on using fruit in your centerpieces to my email at stacey@weddingjunkie.com. I would love to feature your ideas in an upcoming blog.