Say Yes To The Dress

I'm all giddy right now because I just filled out an application to be on TLC's Say Yes To The Dress!!!

For those of you who are not familiar with Say Yes to the Dress, it is a reality TV show on TLC that follows events at Kleinfeld Bridal Salon in NYC. The series shows the progress of individual sales associates, managers, and fitters at the store, along with profiling brides as they search for the perfect wedding dress.

For more information, please visit:

http://tlc.discovery.com/tv/say-yes-to-the-dress

http://www.kleinfeldbridal.com


I'll be sure to let you know if I get a casting call! If I do get on the show, I hope I get Sarah, Audrey, or Keisha as my bridal consultant - they are the best!

Wedding Website

I think the idea of the wedding website was just a fabulous one (popularized in ~2008). These "wedsites" are very helpful for your guests to get information about your wedding ceremony, reception, pre-wedding festivities, formality, location/directions, hotel accommodations, registries, etc.

It is also helpful in the way that if your guests haven't met your future wife/husband, it gives them a chance to check them out before the big day (feature a "couples" biography on your website). Or maybe your guests can't remember how you two met or what "your story" is. Maybe Aunt Irene is too old and can't travel to your wedding; she can feel like she was there if you post your wedding video (pictures too) on your website.

In short, wedding websites aid in wedding planning and serve as a communication tool for your guests.

Here is David and I's quintessential wedding website:

http://www.ReneeandDavidGetMarried.com

Let me know what you think!

(Send your wedding website to me and I'd be happy to take a look at it and give you tips and pointers.)

Reception Venue

David and I will be having our wedding reception at Cincinnati Music Hall. Music Hall is the crown jewel of the Queen City (Cincinnati!). It was built in 1878 and is the premier classical music performance hall. It is home to Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Opera, May Festival Chorus, and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. It ranks as one of finest performance venues in the world.

The whole building from top to bottom is simply stunning! Absolutely gorgeous! I couldn't think of a better place to host a somewhat "Tiffany" themed, classy formal wedding.

Our guests will enter Music Hall from the front of the building (Elm Street) and walk through the magnificent foyer that is adorned with crystal chandeliers and beautiful marble floors. They will then proceed up the escalator to the third floor for the cocktail hour that wll be held in Corbett Tower. After a drink or two and some delicious appetizers, our guests will go down to the second floor and into the main ballroom for dinner and dancing.

I want to have the cocktail hour in a separate room from the reception ballroom because I want (David too) to have the first look at the ballroom. I want to be in the ballroom first to see it all decorated perfectly and to take it all in before any of the guests see it. I also think that by hosting your cocktail hour and reception in two different spaces, it creates a "wow" factor and keeps the momentum of your party going. Your guests will wonder what's next!?


For more information about Cincinnati Music Hall, please visit:

http://www.cincinnatiarts.org/musichall

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_Hall_(Cincinnati)


I hope you enjoy the pictures of Music Hall!

Can't you just picture ladies in long evening gowns, gentlemen in tuxedos… they are mingling, sipping wine, eating a fabulous meal, the band is up front on the stage, people dancing the night away... Our wedding reception will truly be a most wonderful occasion!

Something (Tiffany) Blue Quotes I Love...

“There is no Something Blue that makes a statement the way Tiffany Blue does about what classy is!”

“There is something classic and evocative about Tiffany Blue that makes me shiver just a little. Maybe it was Breakfast At Tiffany’s, or maybe it’s just the years of tradition behind it.”

“Tried and true, you can’t go wrong with something blue!”

"What I've found does the most good is just get into a taxi and go to Tiffany’s.” –Holly Golightly

Steel Magnolias "Blush and Bashful"

In honor of my earlier post, I thought I'd share a short clip (YouTube video by SteelMagnoliasUpload) of the "Blush and Bashful" scene.

Color Palette

One of the first questions a bride gets asked is what her colors are for her wedding. This has definitely held true since I've been engaged!

When I think of wedding colors the move "Steel Magnolias" comes to mind. Ladies, are you with me?! I love the infamous scene in the movie where all the ladies are getting their hair done at Truvie's and asking Shelby (Julia Roberts) what her colors are. "My colors are Blush and Bashful"! Her mother (Sally Fields) replies, "her colors are pink and pink".... "the church is going to look like it was doused with Pepto Bismol..."

I absolutely adore that movie! Don’t you?!

What girl doesn't love pink for her wedding?!

And so without further adieu, I present my color palette to you!!!

Blush Pink (light pink and all varying shades thereof)
Tiffany Blue (light turquoise/aqua)
Gold (hints of varying metallics)
Ivory/Creams
Celadon

My colors are basically a classic pastel spring palette. I personally do not believe brides should stick to one color. Sometimes it can be a little overpowering. More times than not, I have seen Tiffany Blue way overdone and overused. Tiffany Blue in itself is beautiful and elegant (and why shouldn't it be; Tiffany and Co. is the epitome of class!). I just don't think everything in a wedding has to have a theme and has to match 100 percent. My theme for my wedding is classic, traditional, understated elegance. All of my colors/venue/stationery/flowers/bridesmaid dresses, etc. will all be reflect my overall theme, just not all in the same colors. For instance, I will incorporate Tiffany Blue into my stationery and favors; blush pink by way of the bridesmaid dresses and flowers; metallics will be found at our venue and table décor… I think it will all tie in beautifully.

The best description I can give you of my color palette is from wedding book called "Style Your Dream Wedding" by Susie Coelho.

What do you think of my color palette? What are your favorite wedding colors?

Perin/Ellington Wedding

This past Saturday, May 22, 2010, I assisted at the Perin/Ellington Wedding. It was my first wedding of the year! The weather was gorgeous, the food and cake were delicious, we had a fabulous team of vendors, the bride looked stunning, and fun was had by all.

The ceremony was held at the St. Rose Church on Riverside Drive in Cincinnati. The reception was held underneath a tent on the grounds at the Taft Museum of Art downtown. It's really a stunning venue! Just perfect for a spring garden wedding!

The team of vendors included:
I Do Weddings! Event Planning
Jeff Thomas Catering
Bakery Hill
Photosmith Photography
Studio Z Films Cinematography
Airwave Band
Robin Wood Floral Design

Enjoy the pics!

The Association of Bridal Consultants

For today's post, I thought I would write about the Association of Bridal Consultants (ABC).

I joined the Association back in May of 2009. It was one of the best career decisions I ever made. Through their rigorous program, I become a certified wedding planner. My official title is Professional Bridal Consultant™. I will be moving up the ranks after this year’s annual conference!

"The Association of Bridal Consultants is the only international trade association dedicated to serving the wedding professional worldwide. Founded in 1981, the Association of Bridal Consultants has grown an average of more than 50 percent every year. Its predecessor, the American Association of Professional Bridal Consultants, had been formed in 1955 and served the wedding industry for more than 25 years.

The Association of Bridal Consultants is a membership service organization, designed to increase awareness of the wedding business and improve the professionalism of its members.

As the oldest and largest group of wedding professionals in the world, we have been making wedding dreams come true since 1955.

We feel ABC offers the most detailed and comprehensive training in the industry. Also, all of our ABC members agree to uphold the ABC Code of Ethics and Professional Standards of Membership."

For more information, visit http://www.bridalassn.com

The first ABC event (I go to every event that I can, I’m hooked!) that I attended was the Annual Business of Brides Conference in November 2009. It was a lot of fun and such a wonderful learning experience. I left the conference with many new friends, confidence, and a wealth of wedding knowledge. Last year's conference in Indianapolis featured Frank Andonpolas (wedding planner extraordinaire from Chicago), Etiquette Expert Peggy Post (Great Grand Daughter Emily Post), Sylvia Weinstock (the Leonardo DiVinci of wedding cakes), as well as many other fantastic speakers.

This year's annual conference is being held at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix, Arizona. I have never been to Arizona before so I am very excited to travel there. The 2010 Hot Haute Hott (High Octane Twenty Ten) Conference will feature Master Bridal Consultant Sasha Souza (I met her last month and she is a fabulous presenter), celebrity wedding planner David Tutera (as seen on WE TV’s My Fair Wedding), as well as Alan Berg from The Knot. The Annual Business of Brides Conference is sure to never disappoint!

Engagement Cruise

What a wonderful idea David had to begin our engagement with a cruise! We had a blast! This was David and I's third cruise together. We are big fans of Royal Caribbean International! RC's ships are magnificent, the service is top notch, and the food is delicious!

We began our 7-night Western Caribbean cruise on the Liberty of the Seas from Miami, FL. Our stops included: Labadee, Haiti (RC's private island off of Haiti); the Grand Caymen Islands; Ochos Rios, Jamaica; and Cozumel, Mexico.

Our favorite cruise port was Labadee! This was our second time in Labadee. Each time we visit, we have more and more fun. We did two excursions in Ladadee: The Dragon's Flight Zipline (the longest/highest zipline over water), and the Dragon's Breath Coaster (a miniature roller coaster ride through the tropics of Labadee). I can't say enough about RC's Labadee, it's breathtakingly beautiful and lots of fun!

David and I had a lot of fun on our other stops as well. We had never been to Jamaica or the Cayman Islands before (it is always fun visiting new places). In Jamaica we did a bobsled excursion. Does the movie "Cool Runnings" come to mind?! The bobsled excursion began with taking a ski-lift/canopy lift to the top of a mountain. We really got some neat pictures from the high altitude. We then manned our individual bobsleds and went for a thrilling ride! So much fun! (We love the adventure excursions if you can't tell).

We did not sign up for any excursions in The Cayman Islands or Cozumel. We just got off the ship and walked around on our own. We had been to Cozumel before and did a beach excursion and a jungle ATV ride.

The week went by very fast, as most vacations do. We just had the most wonderful time! We definitely ate a lot and relaxed a lot. RC cruises never disappoint, that's for sure!

I wonder where David and I will cruise to next?! We can't wait to go on the Oasis and/or Allure of the Seas!

Enjoy the pics!