TLC’s Four Weddings Episode Recap: November 29th

November 30, 2012 Leave a Comment

Did you watch last night’s episode of “Four Weddings” on TLC? Here is a recap of the episode:

TLC’s “Four Weddings” Episode November 29th

Who are the Brides?: 

  • Becky is an over the top bride who wanted to wow her guests at her wedding. The wedding took place at their home which was transformed into a circus theme setting. As guests entered the backyard, there was a ticket booth with a ticket person who  provided guests with programs. The ceremony featured a stage where the couple, best man, maid of honor, and officiant stood.  The groom was the master of ceremonies and welcomed all the guests before the bride and her 1940’s bridal party walked down the aisle. The ceremony was very unique as they had a reenactment of how the couple met with improv actors playing it out. The reception space was also outside and featured wild animals, dinner stations, fun circus decor, and a performance of a twirling fire show.
  • Carrie a fairytale princess bride who had a fairytale wedding out on sea. The wedding took place on a beautiful yacht where all the festivities took place. The ceremony decor was simple yet featured lovely purple colors and flowers. The captain of the ship married the princess and her Prince Charming. The theme of fairytale wedding was featured all throughout the wedding. The guest favors were stuffed animal prince frogs with kiss marks all over them. The reception continued with a money dance, a cupcake cutting, and stunning views of the San Francisco Bay for guests to enjoy.
  • Evelyn is a bride who celebrates her ten year anniversary with her husband at their second wedding. Since the first time around they did not have a traditional wedding, this time, they had a traditional Filipino Catholic ceremony.The ceremony took place at a beautiful church and featured fuchsia, pink, and white colors, flowers in vases, and the couple’s daughters walking their mom down the aisle. The Filipino Catholic ceremony featured drapery wrapped around the couple, and a unity rope which tied them together. The reception was at unique location and took place at the Space and Science Center in Oakland, California. Guests enjoyed a dinner buffet and then had the opportunity to walk around the museum and enjoy some of the interesting exhibits. Some exhibits like trying to land a space shuttle on the moon, or taking a photo in a space suit.
  • Tanaya is hopeless romantic bride who had a vintage romantic wedding. Set at a public park, the ceremony had mason jars with flowers hanging from the ceremony chairs, personal touching vows, and a flow of bubbles in the air once the couple was married. The vintage romantic feel continued at the groom’s family home. The cocktail hour took place in the front of the house and guests enjoyed various types of cheese plates.  The backyard served as the reception space and was perfect for the romantic garden feel. With hanging paper flowers on the trees, glass jars with flowers at each guest table, and beautiful greenery, the backyard was set as a rustic romantic setting. Food trucks were parked outside with various choices for dinner. Guests walked up, put in their order, and sat back down to eat their dinner. Dessert were little bags of beignets which guests seem to enjoy.

Cool factor:  There was one detail from each wedding that stood out for me. What I loved at Becky’s wedding was that instead of a traditional cake cutting, they actually cut a piece of pie. Various pies were also shared with their guests to enjoy. I think it is great because it totally goes with the whole circus theme, and its not traditional. How fun!   Carrie’s dress was a gorgeous big ball gown dress which flowed out so beautifully.  Her groom is blind and so she wanted the dress to have many great textures so he can feel them. I thought how wonderful and sweet this is, so the groom can imagine how she looks on their wedding day. That even though he can not “see” her in her dress, he could still enjoy his beautiful bride. I loved this!   Evelyn’s wedding was a family affair as both of their children were incorporated into their wedding. Not only at the ceremony, but the reception as well. The two girls performed a special dance for their parents. I thought this was such a sweet idea that not only the parents enjoyed but their guests as well. What I thought was absolutely unique at Tanaya’s wedding was the rustic outside door which had two flower displays on top, and set as their backdrop for their ceremony. Instead of a traditional altar, they had this beautiful door which totally brought in the vintage romantic feel. I had to rewind that part and see that door again! That is how much I was amazed by it.

Who won? Congrats to Tanaya for winning!  She and her husband won an all expenses paid honeymoon to Mexico.  I was not surprised about Tanaya winning at all, she seemed to deserve it! While I can not account for the food since I wasn’t actually there, all the other details – venue, dress, and originality – were owned by Tanaya’s wedding, easily exceeding the rest. I thought that every detail of her wedding reflected her vintage romantic theme. You can tell the true love that she shared with her groom because it was evident in every aspect of her wedding. It looked like a happy, fun, and lovely wedding to be at, and I’m sure viewers (like me) could tell how in love the couple was. Great job Tanaya!  So how did the other three brides score? Becky came in second, Evelyn in third, and Carrie in fourth place. Were you surprised by the results?

Stay tuned to Bridal Hot List for more TLC updates on wedding themed shows!
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King Plow Arts Center Wedding from My Simply Perfect Wedding and Events

November 29, 2012 Leave a Comment
A beautiful bride and her groom say ” I Do”, and share their traditions and love with their guests on their wedding day. The ceremony took place at Canon Chapel and featured gorgeous white flowers, candles, and a bride who wore a traditional American wedding dress. The couple and their guests headed to King Plow Arts Center, where their reception took place. The bride did a dress change, and wore a lovely traditional Chinese dress. Absolutely stunning!  To say thank you to their parents, they performed a traditional Tea Ceremony where they offer tea to their parents.  What a beautiful way to say “thank you” to the parents!

Elegantly planned by My Simply Perfect Wedding and Events, this wedding has style, sophistication, and a touch of tradition. Ready to see a bride who can pull off two fabulous dresses at her wedding? Browse through the photos by Yanwen Guo and see for yourself.

Congrats to Janice and Tim!

  • Caterer by Bold American
  • Flowers and Decor by Bold American
  • Cake by Nancy So

 

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Four Great Honeymoon Destinations on a Budget

November 28, 2012 1 Comment

Let’s face it, the economy is still pretty darn lousy and a lot of us might be making ends meet, but certainly aren’t rolling in cash these days. For those of you getting married and footing your own bill, this might mean that your honeymoon plans go by the wayside. However, with some smart thinking there’s no need to ax the honeymoon just to save some bucks as getting away after the wedding on a vacation after just getting married is part of the whole experience, so don’t give it up if you don’t absolutely have to. Here are some ideas for those of you on a budget, still looking to get away for vacation.

Idea 1: Las Vegas

Las Vegas - Great Honeymoon Destination!

Las Vegas – Great Honeymoon Destination!

Pretty much wherever you live, getting to Las Vegas is relatively easy and cheap. Certainly, it’s a lot cheaper to get to via a JetBlue or Southwest flight to Las Vegas than it would be to Hawaii! One very underrated aspect of Las Vegas is how cheap it can be if you’re a savvy shopper. There are hotel deals on the strip at nice establishments all the time and if you travel during the week, it’s darn near free to stay in three star hotels on the strip. There’s four star dining at two star prices, plus more entertainment that you could possibly imagine, making Las Vegas a very underrated and cost concious (assuming you stay away from the tables) option.

Idea 2: Weekend Cruise

If you’re lucky enough to be near a port where they offer weekend cruises via one of the major cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises or Carnival, then you should absolutely look into this option. Cruises are a lot of fun and if you haven’t been on one before, it’s definitely time to check them out. The cruise ships are so massive there’s little to no chance of getting seasick (trust me, I’m the worst of them all!), the food is usually pretty good, and the staff there is dedicated to making sure you are entertained and happy 24/7 during your cruise. Again, savvy shoppers are able to find deals, even for two, three, or four night cruises. Those in Southern California, Florida, and other cruise hot spots should consider this option.

Idea 3: Staycation

What the heck is a “staycation” you ask? Easy – it’s when you decide to take a vacation in your hometown. There might be a very nice hotel or a historical area of your city that folks from outside your area come to visit, but you never do because it’s always been there. Why not take the role of the tourist and stay close at one of these types of places, completely cutting the cost of travel expenses like airfare and gas? It’s all about your frame of mind going into your honeymoon, so if you find a local resort, find a deal and take on the mentality of a vacationing tourist – you’ll probably have as much fun as if you traveled to some other city.

Idea 4: Camping

There’s a big caveat to this one, guys. In order to pull this off you need a very outdoorsy bride who has a high sense of adventure. If that is the case, what could possibly be more romantic than spending your nights under the stars and enjoying the amazing parks and camping sites our country has to offer? Sure, this is not a typical idea and frankly the majority of brides will balk at the idea of camping, but certainly out-of-the-box thinking could go a long way.

 

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Personal Bridal Journals

November 27, 2012 Leave a Comment

Planning a wedding is one of the biggest and most important events of your life. It can take up to a year to plan a wedding and within that time, there are many appointments, tasks, and notes to keep track of. How do you keep all this information in one place and stay organized?  Sticky notes? Writing reminders on your forehead or on your hands? Those can all work,  however how about if you can have a personalized way of keeping everything in one place and be stylish all at the same time? Would that not be fabulous? Erika Bowers at Erika’s Elegance shares what she creates for brides. She designs personal journals which are all custom made to order. All designs are made with:

  • Thick Pearlized Luxury Paper for Cover
  • Pages are made of a 70 lb. linen paper with no watermark, very good quality.
  • Each page is customized with a tagline
  • Journal’s can come adorned with either high quality crystals or genuine Swarovski Crystals
  • A soft thin black padded backing.
Each journal also includes:
  • Pages for top vendor numbers at glance (At a glance the bride can quickly find phone numbers of her baker, photographer, wedding planner, etc)
  • 12 month, 9 month, 6 month, 4 month, 3 month, 2 month, 1 month, 2 weeks, and wedding day checklist

Now you can keep all your important appointments and notes in a journal that has been made just for you! How wonderful is that? So planning can be easy and fun while keeping in style.

 

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Custom Wedding ArtWork

November 26, 2012 1 Comment

Did you ever think that a piece of art can be part of your wedding day? Something so unique and personal, that it creates a lasting memory for you and your guests? Bethany Thomas, owner at Commemory Fine Art shares how artwork can be incorporated into the wedding day. She specializes in creating a lasting memory for important life milestones like a wedding day. A memory that can be shared with not only the couple, but all future generations as well. How wonderful is that! Are you excited yet? At the edge of your seat to find out how? Then let me tell you!

Bethany Thomas creates heirloom-quality paintings that can serve as lovely decor at the wedding day such as a beautiful backdrop for the ceremony and sweetheart table, table artwork for the guest tables, and wedding dress/love story memory paintings. Not only does the artwork serve as a unique and personal decor piece at your wedding, it can then be brought home and be used as home decor. How great is that? What I love is that you bring home a piece of art from your wedding day, display it, and will always remember the wonderful wedding day for years to come.

What I am most excited to share is what Bethany told us about the recent artwork that she created for a couple at their wedding:

  •  My goal is to give the bride beautiful and meaningful textured artwork as decor for her wedding day that becomes a lasting memory of the day as decor in their home. It will last a lifetime and leave a legacy for their families they will enjoy for generations. I specialize in helping brides have a lasting memory of their dress rich in texture and detail.
  •  Amy and Christopher’s 14″x14″ mixed-media painting on canvas is 42 layers of acrylic paint, fabric and paper
  • It features the beautiful picture window at Wayfarers Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes where Amy and Christopher got married
  • Amy’s dress is hanging on a black iron hangar in the chapel
  •  I recreated the calligraphy from the wedding invitation of their names and made a signature ‘W’ “wind chime” hanging from the tree
  • The painting was on display on the guest book table at the couple’s reception

You can see how the painting is reflective of the Wayfarer’s Chapel where Amy and Christopher got married. Check out the photos captured by Beautiful Day Photography.  It is amazing how beautiful and detailed the artwork is, and how wonderful it captures the wedding day.

Are you ready to see how the painting turned out? Just gorgeous!

Here is a close-up. You can see the details of the signature “W” of the wind-chime hanging from the tree. Did you notice the wedding date?

Check out all the details: The colors, texture, and style is absolutely lovely.

If you want to have something very unique and personal which is beautiful, then you should definitely consider Commemory Fine Art when planning the design and decor of your wedding.

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Gift Ideas for the Groom

November 25, 2012 Leave a Comment

If you’re a best man or part of the groom’s party at the wedding, it goes without saying that you should send off your pal into his wedding with a few gifts from the boys to commemorate the occasion. Certainly, the bride is taken care of between all the event she gets to enjoy, but it’s pretty rare that a the bachelor party the groom comes back with anything other than a hangover.

Be a class act and be a bro by getting something nice for the groom. Here are some tips and ideas for gifts that any bro could use.

Tip – Go in Together: Of course, all the guys can individually buy something for $25 each and the groom will get a bunch of stuff that will either be consumed that very night or not last very long. If you pool your money together and even ask some of the other people coming to the wedding on the groom’s side (father-in-law to be, father, cousins, fraternity brothers, etc) you can all pitch in and get something rather awesome he’ll never forget.

Tip – Get something masculine and fun. Hopefully the groom is hooked up already with a plethora of gifts for the home, thanks to the wedding registry. What he won’t get is equipment or toys he’ll want for himself, things worthy of a man-cave like a stereo system, Xbox 360 / PS3, tablet device, or something along the lines of an electronics device or something for the home theater.

Tip – Present it together, before the ceremony. There’s going to be an ideal time at the venue when all the groomsmen and the groom will be together in a room. Usually this is when you’ll be getting ready, or just lounging around enjoying some final bro time before the wedding. Use this time to make an official presentation of the gift to the groom. While it might sentimental and touching, you can always play it off so it doesn’t get too mushy of course!

Tip – Avoid certain gifts. Don’t get the groom anything for the house that would be on the registry. Basically, avoid anything that would end up in a bathroom or a kitchen. The bedroom is debatable but the outdoors might be a good thing, especially if it involves grilling. The point is, just avoid lame, cheap gifts or ones that will be duplicated by the registry. Get something personal because it’ll mean so much more of the groom were to say “Wow, this is really something I’ve always wanted but never would save up for myself” as opposed to “Gee thanks let’s break this out tonight” (and never think about it ever again).

Hopefully these tips get the juices flowing so you remain a great bro and hook up the groom with something nice before the big moment. Good luck!

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Choosing the Right Tux or Suit for the Groom and Best Man

November 24, 2012 Leave a Comment

When thinking about appropriate wear for the groom and the best man, I think to what one of my favorite television characters, Barney Stinson, would say, “Suit Up!” which is absolutely appropriate. For most guys, this is not an activity though that involves picking the type of suit you’d wear to a wedding, so even our pal Barney would find himself in a quandary about finding the right tux or suit to wear on the big day because we’re never really shopping for that event.

First off, there’s absolutely no shame in renting something nice. This isn’t a wedding dress guys, nobody is going to ask you to get into it again one day, nor will your son or daughter ask to wear it on their wedding day many years from now. In fact, the thought is pretty absurd and worth a laugh to think about. Given that, the plan can totally be to rent something very swanky and appropriate. There are plenty of tux shops that don’t just specialize in tuxes, many have a wide catalog that fit what you’re looking for.

Second tip is to bring the boys along that will be getting in these outfits. Chances are you’ll need to get people fitted anyway so might as well just get it all done in one shot and make a day of it. Also, you’ll want to get a second opinion on what you pick out that is from your side (aka not the bride, your mom, etc) of the wedding.

A third tip is to bring the bride along for the search. If you’re like me, or really most men marrying women out there, you’ll really just want to look really sharp *and* have her be pleased with the way you look. It’ll be a good way to start off your marriage the right way to mutually consult about these decisions and make the decision together. That doesn’t mean she gets anything and everything she wants – nobody wants that, even her. Make the decision together and find something you both love.

In terms of finding the right tux or suit for the best man, assuming he’ll be there with you on your search, you’ll easily be able to kill two birds with one stone. The assumption here is that the Best Man should be the second best man at the wedding so find an outfit for him that is unquestionably sharp but an defined notch below what the groom is going to be wearing.

That’s some good advice to get you guys going, so get out there and have some fun and make sure you pick something comfortable, sharp, and stylish. Just think, the pictures you take in that outfit will be ones you’ll be looking at for the rest of your life so make sure you like what you wear!

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TLC’s Four Weddings Thanksgiving Special Episode Recap: November 22nd

November 23, 2012 5 Comments

Did you watch last night’s Thanksgiving special episode of “Four Weddings” on TLC? Here is a recap of the episode:

Special Thanksgiving episode of TLC’s “Four Weddings”

Who are the Brides?: 

  • Judy’s daughter is Jessica who is a princess bride who marry’s her Prince Charming. Jessica had a fairytale wedding which took place  at a magnificent castle.  The ceremony took place outside the gorgeous castle overlooking the ocean. Jessica wore a princess style dress, fitted on the top and flowed wide on the bottom. The couple shared personal vows with each other.  Following the cocktail hour, guests headed inside the castle for the reception. The reception featured a dinner buffet, cigar station, and each guest took home a key styled bottle opener.
  • Beth’s daughter is Brianna who is a laid back and relaxed bride. Brianna had a very unique wedding  that took place at the aquarium. As guests walked in, they passed by  the stingray display, and had a chance to touch them! Her ceremony took place under a beautiful gazebo featuring traditional Irish bagpipes and ancient Celtic ritual of hand-fasting. The reception took place inside and had some wonderful features. It had beautiful tall flower centerpieces, penguin ice sculptures, and a very cute sweetheart table.
  • Karma’s daughter is Kassondra is a party loving bride who loves to have a good time. The ceremony took place inside with the bridesmaids in dark blue dresses and groomsmen in grey suits. The ceremony was very touching and ended with the jumping of the broom. The ceremony space flipped to a gorgoues reception space with touches of pink. The night was not dull or boring, actually the opposite. Karma danced all night long at her daughter’s wedding along with all the other guests. A total party vibe for all the guests to enjoy.
  • Gisella daughter is Concetta who is an Italian bride who loves everything Italian. Her ceremony was at a gorgeous church featuring stunning stained glass windows and beautiful murals. The ceremony was traditional yet had humor which the minister shared with everyone. Gisella’s dress was long, with a beaded top, and a lovely long veil which she wore all night. Gisella insisted that her daughter needed to wear it all day long. So she did! The cocktail hour had a large spread of various foods offered for all the guests to enjoy. There was barbecue ribs, a seafood bar, a pasta station, fruit, chicken, lobsters and more.  Yes, lobsters at the cocktail hour. The reception took place inside a lovely banquet hall which was decorated very elegantly. Hanging chandeliers, beautiful branches with twinkle lights on them, and lighted tables. A very whimsical feel. Concetta and her gests danced to the music of a live band.

Cool factor:  There was one detail from each wedding that stood out for me. Jessica shared wishing lanterns with all her guests.Wishing lanterns are airborne lanterns that are sent up in to the air. At nightfall, each guest lit a lantern, made a wish, and sent off the beautiful lanterns into the night sky. I thought this was something very special that each guest was able to take part of and very memorable. It also made for a beautiful night scene.  Brianna’s  venue was very unique and offered features which you normally would not see at a wedding. I absolutely loved the idea of having the cocktail hour surrounded by all the exhibits. From crabs, to an assortment of fish, octopus, and even sharks. It was neat to be able to dine with the sharks! I think that it was something pretty cool.  Kassondra’s wedding reception did not have the traditional flower or candle centerpieces. Instead, each table had a cake for a centerpiece! I thought this was a pretty unique idea and was very cute. Once it was dessert time, the cake was replaced by a plate of chocolate covered strawberries.How great is that? What I loved at Concetta’s wedding was the four course dinner menu. Guests could choose from seven entrees. Normally, if it is a sit down dinner, you have two maybe three choices to choose from, however at this wedding, you can choose from seven! I think that food is one of the most important elements of a wedding. If your guests have options, good options and it tastes good, then they will have a better time. Otherwise, you will just have a bad taste in your mouth, and nobody wants that. Having such a large amount of food and choices worked perfectly for an Italian style wedding.

Who’s daughter won? Congrats to Gisella for winning her daughter a honeymoon!  Her daughter and groom won an all expenses paid honeymoon to the countryside of France.  I was not surprised about Concetta winning at all, she seemed to deserve it! While I can not account for the food since I wasn’t actually there, all the other details – venue, dress, and originality – were owned by Concetta’s wedding, easily exceeding the rest. I thought that every detail of her wedding reflected her Italian theme. The expansive spread of food, the gorgeous church, and whimsical decor all came together perfectly. It looked like a joyful, fun, and elegant wedding to be at, and I’m sure viewers (like me) could tell how in love the couple was. Great job Gisella and Concetta! Concetta’s mom help plan this amazing wedding for her daughter, and she did it all right.  So how did the other three brides score? Judy’s daughter Jessica came in second, Beth’s daughter Brianna in third, and Karma’s daughter Kassondra in fourth place. Were you surprised by the results?

Stay tuned to Bridal Hot List for more TLC updates on wedding themed shows!
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Sneak Peek of TLC’s Thanksgiving Special of “Four Weddings” Episode

November 22, 2012 Leave a Comment

Are you ready for this week’s sneak peak of “Four Weddings” which airs on TLC? This week’s episode is a Thanksgiving special featuring the Mother of the Brides! The show features four completely different brides who attend each other’s weddings with one wedding being deemed “the winner” at the end.However on this special episode, the brides will not be doing the judging, it will be the Mothers of the Brides. The Mother of the Brides will be attending each other’s daughter’s weddings and will rate the food, dress, venue, originality, and overall experience of each wedding, except for their own daughter’s.  At the end, all the scores of each Mother of the Bride are tallied, and the bride with the highest score wins an all expenses paid honeymoon.

On tonight’s episode the four brides are: A princess bride, a aquarium loving bride, a fun and party bride, and a traditional Italian bride. Each of these brides share their unique style and taste on their wedding day.  Which bride will be your favorite? Which bride’s detail’s will you like the best? Which dress will stand out the most? What ceremony will be the most touching? Which Mother of the Bride do you think will win their daughter a honeymoon? You will have to wait until Friday where I will provide a re-cap on this episode. You will not want to miss this episode, it is so fun to see what the mothers think! Mothers know best!

TLC’s Four Weddings airs tonight at 9/8c. So set your DVR’s, or watch it live tonight!

For more information on Four Weddings, check out the website: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/tv/four-weddings

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Wedding Gift Registry for the Modern Bride

November 21, 2012 Leave a Comment

Looking to do something cool and easy for your gift registry? You do not have to register just for towels and sheets, you can register for room service while you are on your honeymoon. How cool is that? This is perfect for the couple who may already have all their home goods and like to have cash or other fun gifts to enjoy instead.

Wed & Wish is a wedding and honeymoon registry service dedicated to couples who do not need physical gifts and can receive cash gifts instead. This allows couples to get what they really want and need.  Imagine the swimming with the dolphins excursion already paid for when you are on your honeymoon or maybe you want to upgrade to a suite when you check in to your hotel. All paid for, so you can really enjoy your honeymoon as a married couple. How nice would that be? Now there are other wedding gift registry websites that provide similar services, however here are some ways that Wed&Wish stands out:

  • Sign up is free and transaction fees are the lowest on the market
  • A private and secure payment platform powered by PayPal
  • Modern and sophisticated design with no adverts and international accessibility
  • Gift tracking system with guest information for thank you’s
  • Complimentary web address so guests can visit the couple’s registry directly
Check out Wed&Wish today to get started! It is easy and fun!

 

Wed&Wish is used and recommended by hundreds of couples worldwide, is accredited by the Better Business Bureau.

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